Ukraine successfully tests Starlink's direct-to-cell technology
The pilot test took place in the Zhytomyr region using Starlink's direct-to-cell technology, Kyivstar said, with its CEO Oleksandr Komarov and Ukraine's digital transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov exchanging messages via regular smartphones.
Direct-to-cell satellite technology aims to provide reliable connectivity when terrestrial networks are unavailable, a critical asset for war-torn Ukraine where Russian attacks on infrastructure regularly disrupt communications.
Satellites used for this service are equipped with advanced cellular modems that function like cell towers in space, beaming signals directly to smartphones on the ground.
Telecom providers around the world are turning to satellite technology in an effort to erase dead zones, particularly in remote areas where terrestrial networks are either too expensive to deploy or face significant geographical challenges.
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The Citizen
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