Feb 11, 2025 13:52 The initiative is being presented in the context of the Ukraine Recovery Conference hosted in Rome. Komarov, attending the event alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, noted his aim to support government efforts and establish new business partnerships, including with Italian firms interested in Ukraine’s market. In addition to the rollout of Starlink mobile services, Komarov addressed the resilience of Ukraine’s telecom infrastructure amid continued Russian attacks. He stated that network systems are now capable of operating for up to 10 hours during nationwide blackouts. Last year, missile strikes targeting Ukraine’s power grid caused widespread outages, disrupting nearly half of the country’s generation capacity. Starlink technology has been in use by Ukraine’s Defense Forces since the early days of the full-scale invasion. Following a Russian cyberattack on British provider Viasat on the eve of the invasion, SpaceX delivered its first batch of Starlink terminals to Ukraine on February 28, 2022. Earlier, in December 2024, Kyivstar signed an agreement with Starlink to introduce Direct-to-Cell satellite communication in Ukraine. The rollout is expected to begin with SMS and OTT messaging services by late 2025, followed by voice and data access. The technology will enable standard 4G smartphones to connect via satellite, ensuring coverage in remote areas and during wartime disruptions. DEFENSE