VEON Ltd., a Nasdaq-listed digital operator, and Starlink Mobile said on 19 October that more than 11 million unique VEON customers have connected at least once to Starlink’s satellite internet service, delivered straight to the handsets they already carry, in places where no cell signal reaches. The announcement, datelined Dubai, New York and Starbase, covers commercial launches in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh within a year of the agreement the two sides signed in November 2025, according to the release published by Yahoo Finance UK.
Key facts
- VEON says it is the first operator group globally to launch Starlink Mobile across three markets.
- Ukraine’s Kyivstar went first on 24 November 2025, the first such service in Europe.
- Beeline Kazakhstan launched on 29 September 2026.
- Banglalink in Bangladesh launched on 9 October 2026, making Bangladesh the first country in South Asia with the satellite-to-mobile service, per VEON.
Sorting out the million-figures
The releases quote five separate totals, and only one of them is measured usage.
- 11 million — unique VEON customers who have connected at least once. Drive Tesla stresses this counts people who used it, not people eligible to.
- More than 40 million — people VEON says the service has the potential to reach across its footprint.
- 20 million — the Bangladesh launch figure, which VEON’s wording presents as customers reached and Drive Tesla describes as a potential customer base.
- 15.5 million — Kyivstar’s roughly 15.5 million 4G smartphone users, who got the service free.
- 11.8 million — Beeline Kazakhstan’s mobile customers, alongside around one million fixed internet customers, per the September release.
Why it matters: satellite internet without a dish
The service works on handsets people already own. VEON says customers use satellite-ready apps, share their location and send messages through apps and SMS on their existing LTE-compatible phones, with no satellite phone, antenna or other special equipment required, as the Beeline Kazakhstan release carried by the Manila Times put it.
VEON frames the combination of low-Earth-orbit satellites and terrestrial mobile networks as coverage in the mountains, on remote highways and at sea, and in places where ground networks have been damaged or knocked out by disaster, conflict or long power outages.
VEON Group chief executive Kaan Terzioglu, quoted in the release on Yahoo Finance UK, said: “We intend to put it in every hand, in every corner of every market we serve.” The commercial case is less settled than the rhetoric: on the investor side, analysts remain split on what Starlink Mobile is worth to SpaceX.
What it costs
No Starlink Mobile price appears in any of the three releases. In Ukraine the service is free to Kyivstar’s 4G smartphone users. In Kazakhstan it is free for customers to experience during an initial period, with neither an end date nor a follow-on tariff given. For Bangladesh, no pricing of any kind is stated. Starlink says network integration works like a standard roaming partner, which is why the service shows up on an ordinary phone rather than as a separate subscription — but what customers pay once the free periods lapse is not addressed anywhere in the announcements.
The three launches
Ukraine
Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV), VEON’s Ukrainian operator, launched on 24 November 2025. VEON says usage has been heaviest in the south and east of the country, where it describes connectivity as a matter of personal safety. That upbeat framing sits alongside a harder story this month, in which Starlink service in Ukraine has been under scrutiny and Kyiv has turned to EU allies.
Kazakhstan
Beeline Kazakhstan, which VEON majority-owns, became the country’s first Starlink Mobile operator. The September release says the service was developed in close collaboration with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. A memorandum of cooperation with Starlink was signed in November 2025, with the first practical trials in December.
Beeline Kazakhstan chief executive Jabbor Kayumov called it a real team effort with the ministry and Starlink Mobile to get the technology right for the market, according to the Manila Times release. VEON lists emergency and rescue services, road and utility services, tourists, mountaineers, travellers and people working at remote sites as the use cases.
Bangladesh
Banglalink launched on 9 October 2026. VEON says the service is designed to keep people reachable during cyclones, floods and long power outages.
The conditions
VEON is explicit that Starlink Mobile needs an existing 4G/LTE smartphone and an open area with a clear view of the sky, and that it is for messages, essential apps and location sharing when no terrestrial signal is available. The Kazakhstan release adds that it works best with a clear line of sight and is aimed at mountains, remote locations and highways outside cities.
Background: who VEON is
VEON describes itself as a digital operator serving over 150 million connectivity users and more than 228 million digital customers, operating across five countries that are home to 550 million consumers, or more than 6% of the world’s population.
VEON also positions the partnership politically, saying it works with leading US technology companies such as Starlink to extend the American technology ecosystem, digital access and resilient infrastructure to high-growth markets. Terzioglu called the milestone American space technology changing lives in real time.
What the announcement does not cover
For readers outside VEON’s three launch markets, there is nothing to go on: the sources name no further market, operator or launch date. VEON says it operates in five countries, but only Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh are identified as Starlink Mobile markets. Direct-to-device is also a distinct product line from Starlink’s broader consumer push, including its in-flight WiFi deals with more than 40 airlines.
Both releases carry forward-looking-statement disclaimers covering VEON’s and Starlink’s plans to expand satellite-to-mobile services, adoption, the number of people the services may reach and related regulatory approvals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which apps do customers use to switch Starlink Mobile on?
In Kazakhstan, Beeline customers activate and manage the service, and find step-by-step guidance, through Janymda, the operator’s super app, according to the VEON release published by the Manila Times. In Bangladesh, Banglalink customers activate it through the MyBL super app, with the RYZE app to follow, per the announcement carried by Yahoo Finance UK.
How large is the Starlink direct-to-device network?
Starlink’s own description in both VEON releases says it is the world’s only and largest such constellation, with 650 launched satellites in low-Earth orbit, and that it acts like a cell phone tower in space using phased array antennas. Starlink also calls itself the world’s largest 4G coverage provider and says it connects millions of customers across six continents.
Can you make ordinary phone calls over it?
The sources are not consistent on voice. VEON’s customer-facing description, reported by Yahoo Finance UK, covers messaging via apps and SMS, satellite-ready apps and location sharing, while Drive Tesla reports that Starlink says the service also supports sending voice notes. Starlink’s boilerplate in both releases claims data, voice, video and messaging to devices in remote locations.
Is the same technology running anywhere outside VEON’s markets?
Yes. Drive Tesla reports that in Canada, Rogers Satellite already uses the same technology to let customers communicate beyond traditional cellular coverage. Starlink says it partners with mobile network operators all over the world.
Follow Starlink News on Google. Make us a preferred source to see more of our reporting in Google search results.
