(Reuters) -Ukraine’s largest mobile operator Kyivstar has successfully conducted the first field test of Elon Musk’s Starlink direct-to-cell satellite technology in Eastern Europe, the company said on Tuesday.

The pilot test took place in the Zhytomyr region using Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology, Kyivstar said, with its CEO Oleksandr Komarov and Ukraine’s digital transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov exchanging messages via regular smartphones.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

Direct-to-cell satellite technology aims to provide reliable connectivity when terrestrial networks are unavailable, a critical asset for war-torn Ukraine where Russian attacks on infrastructure regularly disrupt communications.

Satellites used for this service are equipped with advanced cellular modems that function l

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