Beeline Kazakhstan Completes Starlink Direct-to-Cell Call
Beeline Kazakhstan, VEON’s digital operator, completed the first Starlink Direct-to-Cell call in Central Asia on Dec. 15 in the Akmolinskaya region using standard 4G smartphones and Beeline SIM cards. CEO Evgeniy Nastradin and Deputy Prime Minister Zhaslan Madiyev placed a WhatsApp audio call to VEON CEO Kaan Terzioglu and exchanged SMS messages via Starlink. Beeline plans a customer rollout in 2026, pending regulatory approval, starting with SMS.
Key Points
- 1Conducts first Starlink Direct-to-Cell call in Central Asia using standard 4G smartphones and Beeline SIMs
- 2Demonstrates integration of satellite and terrestrial networks enabling voice and messaging without specialized handsets
- 3Highlights operator pathway to commercial D2C services; practitioners should track regulatory approvals and 2026 SMS launch
Scoring Rationale
Official regional trial demonstrates practical Starlink D2C capability; limited impact until broader commercial rollout and regulatory approvals occur.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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