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Satellite Internet

Starlink Mobile launches direct-to-cell satellite service in Kazakhstan with Beeline

Beeline Kazakhstan and Starlink Mobile have launched direct-to-cell satellite connectivity for consumers, making Kazakhstan the first Central Asian country to move the technology from trials to a live user service.

By Priya Raman · · 2 min read

Beeline Kazakhstan, jointly with Starlink Mobile and with the support of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, has launched satellite mobile connectivity using direct-to-cell technology, the ministry announced on 28 September.

The service lets compatible smartphones connect directly to Starlink satellites without a dedicated satellite phone, external antenna or additional equipment. At the initial stage, users can send and receive messages and access basic internet services in areas where terrestrial mobile networks are completely unavailable. The connection is established automatically when terrestrial coverage is absent and satellite conditions allow.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev said Kazakhstan had become the first country in Central Asia where direct-to-cell technology completed practical testing and was now moving to the user service level. “Today, we see how this agreement is becoming a reality,” he said.

The launch follows agreements reached during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to the United States in autumn 2025. In November 2025 the ministry and Beeline Kazakhstan signed a memorandum of cooperation on direct-to-cell, with the first practical tests conducted in December.

The service will be free during the promotional period for Beeline Kazakhstan subscribers. It is initially available on compatible Android devices, with support for additional operating systems planned. To connect, users must update the Janymda app to the latest version, activate Starlink within the app and enable data roaming; where there is no terrestrial signal, the satellite network can be selected manually as “Beeline Starlink”, which may also appear as 401 04.

The ministry said satellite connectivity was designed to complement, not replace, terrestrial networks, and was particularly relevant for remote regions, highways, mountainous areas and situations where ground infrastructure is damaged. Trend.az reported that the project also rests on a global framework agreement between Starlink and VEON Group, which holds a controlling stake in Beeline Kazakhstan.

Sources

More on this topic: all Satellite Internet stories

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