Dubai and Kiev, December 30, 2024: VION COMPANY LIMITED (like:). (Nasdaq: VEON (NASDAQ:)), 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 provide pioneering direct-to-space service. -Cellular satellite communication in Ukraine.
Upon launch, the service will make Ukraine one of the first countries to have Starlink's game-changing direct-to-cell service, enhancing the resilience of the country's connectivity landscape. Kyivstar expects to launch Starlink direct-to-cell services with SMS and OTT functionality in Q4 2025 for Kyivstar customers, and plans to expand to voice and data in later stages.
Kyivstar has done a tremendous job investing in 4G connectivity in Ukraine, expanding coverage to remote areas and increasing the resilience of its energy network. Today’s announcement helps us take our commitment to Ukraine’s connectivity to the next level, significantly increasing the flexibility of our services through satellite connectivity. We are excited to work with Starlink to make Ukraine one of the world's leading countries with direct-to-cell services, and look forward to exploring opportunities across our market of 520 million people, said Can Terzioglu, CEO of VEON Group.
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 customers 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, CEO of Kyivstar.
With its dedication to expanding 4G coverage to remote regions of Ukraine and maintaining the resilience of connectivity and digital services during power outages, Kyivstar has invested heavily in its 4G network, spectrum and power redundancy since the beginning of the war. With access to Starlink direct-to-cell technology, Kyivstar customers will benefit from satellite connectivity even when the terrestrial network is unable to serve the area.
VEON, Kyivstar's parent company, has invested more than US$10 billion in Ukraine since 2013 and has allocated US$1 billion for the country's recovery and reconstruction from 2023 to 2027. VEON, through Kyivstar, was selected as Ukraine's International Investor of the Year for 2022 and 2023 from Forbes Ukraine and NV Ukraine.
VEON's pioneering spirit has always placed us at the forefront of serving the underserved people in frontier markets. By working with Starlink, we will now leverage space technology to bridge connectivity gaps to expand our reach far beyond the 160 million people we currently serve. This agreement represents a transformative year for VEON, from relocating our headquarters to Dubai to centralizing all of our trading operations on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in New York, and ultimately strengthening our commitment to innovation and growth in the regions that need it most. said Augie K. Fabella II, Chairman and Founder of VEON.
About Kyivstar
Kyivstar is the largest telecom operator in Ukraine with more than 23 million mobile subscribers and more than 1 million home Internet subscribers. As the market-leading operator in Ukraine, the company has maintained network availability at over 90% on average since February 2022, supporting connectivity not only for its customers but also for the wider Ukraine population. Kyivstar is 100% owned by VEON Group.
About Vion
VEON is a Nasdaq-listed digital company headquartered in Dubai that provides connectivity and digital services to approximately 160 million customers. Operating across six countries with more than 7% of the world's population, VEON transforms people's lives through technology-enabled services that empower people 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 leverages its deep expertise in both spacecraft and orbital operations to deploy and operate the world's most advanced satellite constellation to provide global connectivity, including direct connectivity to most cellular devices. Starlink's direct-to-cell capable satellites contain an advanced eNodeB modem that acts like a cell phone tower in space, allowing for network integration similar to a standard roaming partner. Direct to Cell enables connectivity in remote areas, providing peace of mind when customers need it most. Direct to Cell works with LTE phones located wherever you can see the sky. No changes to hardware, firmware or special applications 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 term 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 regarding, 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 accurately predict and some of which VEON may not anticipate. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this release. VEON undertakes no obligation to update publicly, 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
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