Starlink Mobile has reached a major milestone, with more than 11 million customers connecting to its satellite-to-phone service across three countries in less than a year.
The milestone was announced Monday by telecommunications company VEON, which has rolled out Starlink Mobile in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh so far. The 11 million figure represents unique customers who have connected at least once, rather than the number of people eligible to use the service.
Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology allows compatible smartphones to connect directly to satellites when traditional cellular coverage is unavailable, without requiring additional hardware.
The expansion began in Ukraine, where Kyivstar launched Europe’s first Starlink direct-to-cell service in November 2025. The service was made available free to roughly 15.5 million customers with 4G smartphones.
Since then, VEON has expanded into two additional markets.
Beeline Kazakhstan launched the service on September 29, followed by Banglalink in Bangladesh on October 9, bringing satellite connectivity to a potential 20 million Banglalink customers.
According to VEON, customers can send messages, share their location, and access compatible applications using existing LTE smartphones, as long as they have an unobstructed view of the sky. Starlink says the service also supports sending voice notes.
According to VEON, usage on Kyivstar has been highest in southern and eastern Ukraine. In Bangladesh, it offers another way to stay connected during cyclones, flooding, and extended power outages.
VEON says the service could eventually be available to more than 40 million people in its markets.
The milestone also highlights Starlink Mobile’s growing international footprint. In Canada, Rogers Satellite already uses the same technology, allowing customers to communicate beyond traditional cellular coverage.
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- SpaceX Moves Closer to Becoming U.S. Mobile Carrier With New Spectrum Deal
- Rogers Satellite expands Starlink direct to cell coverage area in Canada
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