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Ukraine to launch Starlink mobile internet in 2026, becoming Europe’s first

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Ukraine is set to become the first European country to offer Starlink mobile services, with telecom operator Kyivstar planning to roll out messaging by the end of 2025 and mobile satellite broadband by mid-2026, Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov announced.

Under a deal with SpaceX signed in late 2024, field tests have already started for direct-to-cell satellite services, which connect smartphones directly to satellites without relying on traditional cell towers. This technology allows satellite constellations to function like mobile networks from space.

Komarov told Reuters that the initial phase will focus on over-the-top (OTT) messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Signal, expected to be operational by the end of this year. Full mobile satellite broadband data and voice services are targeted for launch by the second quarter of 2026.

While SpaceX did not comment, the announcement follows a related plan by U.S. carrier T-Mobile, which will offer data services on its Starlink-powered satellite-to-cell network starting October.

Komarov made these remarks ahead of a Ukraine recovery conference hosted by Italy, marking three years since Russia’s invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is also attending the event. Komarov emphasized his goal to support the Ukrainian government and foster new business relations, including partnerships with Italian firms aiming to invest in Ukraine.

Kyivstar, part of telecom group VEON, is progressing with plans for a U.S. stock market listing on NASDAQ, aiming to complete the direct placement of a Ukrainian entity during wartime by Q3 2025 — a first in history, Komarov noted.

Despite ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure causing widespread blackouts last year, Komarov said telecom services have become more resilient. Currently, Kyivstar can maintain fixed and mobile services for up to 10 hours even during national blackouts.

SoftBank Targets $4.9 Billion via T-Mobile Share Sale, Bloomberg Reports

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SoftBank Group Corp is planning to raise nearly $4.9 billion through an overnight block sale of shares in T-Mobile US, according to a report by Bloomberg News on Monday. The Japanese tech conglomerate is offering to sell 21.5 million T-Mobile shares at a price range of $224 to $228 per share.

The proposed sale price reflects a discount of over 3% from T-Mobile’s closing price of $230.99 on Monday. The stake represents approximately 1.9% of T-Mobile’s outstanding shares, based on Reuters calculations. Bank of America is reportedly handling the deal.

Neither SoftBank nor T-Mobile has issued public comments in response to the report.

SoftBank’s decision to divest part of its T-Mobile holdings comes shortly after it reported a 1.15 trillion yen ($7.94 billion) profit for the fiscal year ending March 2025, rebounding from a 227.6 billion yen loss the previous year. The move also signals SoftBank’s continued strategy of realizing gains from past tech investments to support its broader portfolio, which has included both major successes like Alibaba and high-profile failures like WeWork.

The sale is being conducted as an unregistered offering, typically structured to appeal to institutional investors without going through full regulatory disclosures.

Swedish Military Joins Forces with Telia and Ericsson to Strengthen Defense Tech via 5G

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The Swedish Armed Forces have officially joined Telia and Ericsson’s NorthStar 5G innovation program, aiming to enhance national defense capabilities through cutting-edge telecommunications technology. The collaboration seeks to advance military communications, logistics, and security infrastructure, while improving interoperability within NATO.

Originally launched in 2023, the NorthStar initiative was initially focused on industrial clients, but growing geopolitical tensions have pushed Sweden to accelerate its defense tech modernization. “We need to speed it up due to the geopolitical situation in the last six months,” said Brigadier-General Mattias Hanson, CIO of the Swedish Armed Forces, in an interview with Reuters.

Sweden became NATO’s newest member earlier this year and currently allocates around 2.7% of its GDP to defense—a figure the government aims to raise to 3.5% by 2030. The move follows broader European efforts to bolster self-defense as U.S. support under the Trump administration has become less certain.

Under the expanded partnership, the military will engage with tech startups and civilian companies to find innovative solutions to defense challenges. One early focus is improving communication systems for drones. “We will try to figure out how to be faster in innovation and how to solve a military problem with civilian technology,” Hanson explained.

Although Sweden has its own military communication infrastructure, future systems will integrate various technologies—including radio, satellite, 5G, and fiber optics—for more robust and flexible operations.