VEON’s Beeline Kazakhstan Partners with Starlink Direct to Cell to Launch Satellite Connectivity to Kazakhstan, with Support from Kazakhstan Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development

 

Almaty and Washington, DC, November 6, 2025 – VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator (“VEON”), announces that Beeline Kazakhstan, its digital operator in Kazakhstan, is partnering with Starlink Direct to Cell to make essential connectivity accessible across Kazakhstan, including in remote areas not covered by terrestrial networks.

At a trilateral meeting held during the official visit of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the United States, Beeline Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development signed a memorandum of understanding expressing support for Beeline Kazakhstan’s plans to offer Direct to Cell satellite connectivity. Following the commercial agreement signed in September, Beeline Kazakhstan plans to first launch messaging in 2026, and then introduce data connectivity as the next phase.

Beeline Kazakhstan is building on its previous initiatives to provide reliable mobile internet in remote areas and isolated communities in Kazakhstan, which is the 9^th largest country in the world by land area. The company previously expanded its terrestrial network coverage to villages with populations of around 100 people and deployed solar energy panels to power off-grid base stations.

“Beeline Kazakhstan’s partnership with Starlink is a prime example of how global technology can strengthen national infrastructure. Integrating satellite and terrestrial networks will expand coverage and enable connectivity in areas where traditional infrastructure is not unfeasible. The ability to send a message from a smartphone in an area without terrestrial coverage using a direct satellite-to-mobile connection without any additional equipment addresses critical public safety concerns and, without exaggeration, has the potential to save lives,” said Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

“This partnership is a major milestone for connecting Kazakhstan,” said Evgeniy Nastradin, CEO of Beeline Kazakhstan. “From the mountains to the steppe, our aim is to provide reliable communication, and integrating Starlink Direct to Cell satellite with terrestrial connectivity brings that vision closer. This integration is a great opportunity to address the coverage gap in the most remote regions of our country in an efficient way.”