Kyivstar partners with Starlink to provide direct-to-cell satellite connectivity in Ukraine, enhancing mobile services and resilience.
Quiver AI Summary
VEON Ltd. has announced that its Ukrainian digital operator, Kyivstar, has signed a partnership with SpaceX's Starlink to provide direct-to-cell satellite connectivity in Ukraine. This service will enhance Ukraine's connectivity, making it one of the first countries to access Starlink’s innovative direct-to-cell technology. Initial services, including SMS and OTT messaging, are expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025, with plans to expand to voice and data later. This initiative aligns with Kyivstar's efforts to strengthen connectivity in remote areas and through energy disruptions, having invested significantly in its 4G network since the war began. VEON has committed substantial financial resources to Ukraine's recovery and has been recognized as a leading investor in the country. The partnership underscores VEON's dedication to leveraging advanced technology to improve connectivity and services for its customers.
Potential Positives
- Kyivstar's agreement with Starlink positions Ukraine among the first countries to utilize direct-to-cell satellite connectivity, significantly enhancing the nation's connectivity resilience.
- VEON has demonstrated a strong commitment to Ukraine with over USD 10 billion invested since 2013 and a further USD 1 billion allocated for recovery and reconstruction efforts through 2027.
- Kyivstar has maintained over 90% network availability since February 2022, supporting not just its customers but also the wider Ukrainian population during challenging times.
- The partnership with Starlink is expected to provide satellite-powered connectivity to customers even when terrestrial networks are unavailable, improving service reliability significantly.
Potential Negatives
- VEON's announcement of the partnership with Starlink indirectly highlights its reliance on external technologies to enhance service delivery, potentially raising concerns about the company's own technological capabilities and independence.
- The planned launch of the Starlink direct-to-cell service in late 2025 may suggest delays in VEON's deployment of critical connectivity solutions in Ukraine, amidst ongoing challenges in the region.
- The emphasis on past investments in Ukraine could be interpreted as a reactive measure rather than a proactive strategy, which may raise questions about VEON's long-term commitment and adaptability in unstable markets.
FAQ
What is the new service Kyivstar is launching with Starlink?
Kyivstar is introducing direct-to-cell satellite connectivity through Starlink, enhancing Ukraine's connectivity with SMS and OTT messaging functionality.
When will the Starlink service be available to Kyivstar customers?
The Starlink direct-to-cell services are anticipated to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025 for Kyivstar customers.
How does Starlink direct-to-cell technology work?
Starlink uses satellites with eNodeB modems to provide connectivity directly to cellphones, functioning like a mobile tower in space.
What investment has VEON made in Ukraine?
VEON has invested over USD 10 billion in Ukraine since 2013 and committed USD 1 billion for recovery from 2023 to 2027.
How will this service impact connectivity in remote areas of Ukraine?
The Starlink service will provide satellite-powered connectivity, even in areas where the terrestrial network is unavailable, improving resilience.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$VEON Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 21 institutional investors add shares of $VEON stock to their portfolio, and 6 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- LINGOTTO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLP added 193,142 shares (+3.6%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024
- HELIKON INVESTMENTS LTD added 49,680 shares (+1.8%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024
- SAMSON ROCK CAPITAL LLP added 30,000 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024
- CITIGROUP INC added 29,350 shares (+13.4%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024
- CITADEL ADVISORS LLC added 22,213 shares (+58.4%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024
- TWO SIGMA INVESTMENTS, LP added 17,157 shares (+85.6%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024
- DIAMETRIC CAPITAL, LP added 12,758 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024
To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.
Full Release
Dubai and Kyiv, 30 December 2024:
VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator (“VEON” or “VEON Group”), today announces that Kyivstar, its digital operator in Ukraine, has signed an agreement with Starlink, a division of SpaceX, to introduce groundbreaking direct-to-cell satellite connectivity in Ukraine.
Upon its launch, the service will make Ukraine one of the first countries to have the game-changing Starlink direct-to-cell service, enhancing the resilience of the country’s connectivity landscape. Kyivstar anticipates launching Starlink direct-to-cell services with SMS and OTT messaging functionality in the fourth quarter of 2025 for Kyivstar customers, and plans to expand to voice and data in later stages.
“Kyivstar has done a tremendous job in investing in Ukraine’s 4G connectivity, expanding coverage to remote areas and increasing the energy resilience of its network. Today’s announcement helps us take our commitment to Ukraine’s connectivity to the next level, exponentially amplifying the resilience of our services with satellite connectivity. We are excited to work with Starlink to make Ukraine one of the leading countries in the world to have direct-to-cell services, and we look forward to exploring the opportunities across our markets that are home to 520 million people,”
said Kaan Terzioglu, VEON Group CEO.
“Kyivstar has been the backbone of Ukraine’s resilience throughout the war, and we are committed to leaving no stone unturned to keep Ukraine connected. Our collaboration with Starlink is a game-changer in our journey towards achieving our ‘LTE everywhere’ ambition. We are humbled to be the operator that serves its customer with exceptional services, and the company that brings the invaluable capabilities of global technology giants to the people of Ukraine through our international partnerships,”
said Oleksandr Komarov, Kyivstar CEO.
With its dedication to expanding 4G coverage to remote areas of Ukraine and maintaining the resilience of connectivity and digital services during energy blackouts, Kyivstar has invested significantly in its 4G network, spectrum and energy redundancy since the beginning of the war. With access to Starlink direct-to-cell technology, Kyivstar customers will benefit from satellite-powered connectivity even when the terrestrial network is unable to service an area.
VEON, Kyivstar’s parent company, has invested more than USD 10 billion in Ukraine since 2013 and has committed USD 1 billion to the country’s recovery and reconstruction from 2023 through 2027. VEON, through Kyivstar, was named the top international investor in Ukraine for 2022 and 2023 by Forbes Ukraine and NV Ukraine.
“VEON’s pioneering spirit has always put us at the forefront of serving the underserved in frontier markets. Working with Starlink, we will now leverage space technology to bridge the connectivity gaps to extend our reach far beyond the current 160 million people we serve. This agreement marks a transformative year for VEON, from relocating our headquarters to Dubai to focusing all our trading on Nasdaq in New York and ultimately to reinforcing our commitment to innovation and growth in the regions that need it the most”
said Augie K Fabela II, Chairman and Founder of VEON.
About Kyivstar
Kyivstar is the largest telecoms operator in Ukraine with over 23 million mobile subscribers and over 1 million home internet subscribers. As Ukraine’s market-leading operator, the company has maintained network availability of above 90% on average since February 2022, supporting the connectivity of not only its own customers but also the broader Ukrainian population. Kyivstar is 100% owned by the VEON Group.
About VEON
VEON is a Nasdaq-listed digital operator headquartered in Dubai that provides connectivity and digital services to nearly 160 million customers. Operating across six countries that are home to more than 7% of the world’s population, VEON is transforming lives through technology-driven services that empower individuals and drive economic growth. For more information visit:
www.veon.com
About Starlink Direct to Cell
As the world’s leading provider of launch services, SpaceX is leveraging its deep experience with both spacecraft and on orbit operations to deploy and operate the world’s most advanced constellation of satellites to provide connectivity globally, including directly to most cellular devices. Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capability have an advanced eNodeB modem onboard that acts like a cellphone tower in space, allowing network integration similar to a standard roaming partner. Direct to Cell enables connectivity in remote regions, providing peace of mind when customers need it most. Direct to Cell works with existing LTE phones wherever you can see the sky. No changes to hardware, firmware, or special apps are required, providing seamless access to text, voice, and data. Learn more at
https://www.starlink.com/business/direct-to-cell
Follow Starlink on X
https://x.com/Starlink
Disclaimer
This release contains “forward-looking statements”, as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and include statements relating to, among other things, VEON’s technology strategy, commercial plans and partnerships. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which VEON cannot predict with accuracy and some of which VEON might not even anticipate. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this release. VEON does not undertake to publicly update, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws, any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after such dates or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contact Information
VEON
Hande Asik
Group Director of Communication and Strategy
pr@veon.com
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
