KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine’s largest mobile operator Kyivstar has become the first in Europe to launch Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite technology in a bid to keep millions connected amid wartime blackouts and disrupted infrastructure, the company said on Monday.

Kyivstar is initially offering SMS capabilities via the technology and plans to extend to voice and data next year, under a deal between Elon Musk’s Starlink and telecoms group Veon, the owner of Kyivstar.

“In Ukraine, staying connected means staying safe,” Kyivstar’s CEO Oleksandr Komarov said in a statement, adding that the service would enhance network resilience. Kyivstar serves about 22.5 million mobile customers in Ukraine.

PROLONGED BLACKOUTS, DAMAGED NETWORKS

The service would enable customers to remain connected on re

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