Kyivstar says 7.5 million users connected to Starlink hybrid network

TL;DR

• Kyivstar said on September 10, 2026 that more than 7.5 million customers in Ukraine have connected to its hybrid terrestrial and Starlink-based non-terrestrial network.
• Kyivstar launched commercial direct-to-device services in Europe in November 2025 and said it has delivered more than 10 million SMS messages over satellite.
• Kyivstar said customers switch automatically to satellite when terrestrial service is unavailable during blackouts or infrastructure damage.

Kyivstar said on September 10, 2026 that more than 7.5 million customers in Ukraine have connected to its hybrid terrestrial and Starlink-based non-terrestrial network. Kyivstar said this was up from 5 million in March 2026 and 3 million at the start of 2026.

Kyivstar, Ukraine's largest operator, launched commercial direct-to-device services in Europe in November 2025. The operator has integrated Starlink Mobile with its terrestrial network and said it has delivered more than 10 million SMS messages over satellite.

Illia Polshakov, chief new business stream officer at Kyivstar, said the network was built to maintain service when blackouts, damaged infrastructure, or other disruptions create sudden coverage gaps in areas that are normally served by terrestrial mobile networks. Kyivstar said customers automatically switch to satellite when terrestrial service is unavailable.

Kyivstar said it has expanded the service from SMS to light data and business-critical applications. VEON, Kyivstar's parent company, plans to offer satellite services across its markets, with Kazakhstan next in line in 2026, followed by Bangladesh.