With the support of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Beeline Kazakhstan, in partnership with Starlink Mobile, is launching satellite mobile connectivity based on Direct to Cell technology. The technology will allow users to access selected communication services on compatible smartphones beyond the coverage of terrestrial mobile networks, El.kz cites Ministry of AI and Digital Development.
The introduction of Starlink Mobile is the result of agreements reached during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to the United States in 2025. In November of the same year, the Ministry and Beeline Kazakhstan signed a memorandum of cooperation on the implementation of Direct to Cell technology, followed by the first practical tests in December.
“In autumn 2025, during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to the United States, Kazakhstan reached an agreement on the introduction of Starlink Mobile (Direct to Cell) satellite connectivity. Today, we are seeing this agreement become a reality. Kazakhstan has become the first country in Central Asia where Direct to Cell has undergone practical testing and is now moving to the user service stage. It is important for us that advanced technologies are not simply part of international agreements, but are beginning to work here in Kazakhstan and deliver tangible benefits to people,” said Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The technology provides a direct connection between a compatible smartphone and Starlink Mobile (Direct to Cell) satellites without the need for a dedicated satellite phone, external antenna or additional equipment. Users will be able to send and receive messages, as well as access basic internet services in areas where there is no terrestrial mobile network coverage. For Beeline Kazakhstan customers, the service will be available free of charge during the promotional period.
Satellite connectivity complements terrestrial mobile infrastructure and expands communication opportunities in remote areas, along highways outside urban areas and in mountainous regions. The service can be used where there is no terrestrial coverage, provided that conditions allow a connection to be established with a satellite.
For Kazakhstan, with its vast territory, the development of satellite mobile connectivity is of particular importance. The technology creates additional opportunities for sending messages from hard-to-reach areas, as well as in situations where terrestrial infrastructure has been damaged. It can be useful for tourists, residents of remote settlements, road and utility service workers, and specialists working far from populated areas.
“Beeline has been operating in Kazakhstan for more than twenty years, and throughout this time we have consistently invested in the development of connectivity and new technologies. Kazakhstan is one of the largest countries in the world by territory, and distance should not become a barrier to people’s access to modern technologies. The development of digital infrastructure is a long-term investment in the country’s competitiveness and quality of life,” said Kazakhstani businessman and investor of the Verny Capital Group, Bulat Utemuratov.
“The launch of satellite mobile connectivity is the result of extensive joint efforts by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the Beeline Kazakhstan team and Starlink specialists. Beeline is the first company in Kazakhstan to launch this technology, which will expand the capabilities of mobile connectivity beyond conventional coverage areas. The results of this long and dedicated effort are now available to people across Kazakhstan. We are offering a simple and fundamentally new level of connectivity that will allow people to stay connected in places where this was previously impossible,” said Jabbor Kayumov, CEO of Beeline Kazakhstan.
The project is being implemented jointly by the Ministry, Beeline Kazakhstan and Starlink. An additional foundation for the cooperation is the global framework agreement between Starlink and the VEON Group, which holds a controlling stake in Beeline Kazakhstan.
How to Use the Technology
At the current stage, the service is available on compatible Android devices. Support for other operating systems is planned to be expanded in the future.
To activate the service, users need to update the Janymda app to the latest version, activate the Starlink service in the app and enable data roaming in their phone settings. If there is no terrestrial mobile coverage, the satellite network can be selected manually as Beeline Starlink. In some cases, it may appear as 401 04.
