16.04.2026 21:40:00
Дата публикации
Kazakhstan is preparing to launch SpaceX’s Direct-to-Cell satellite mobile technology. Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiev announced that Beeline, together with SpaceX, is working on the rollout. Pilot tests were conducted at the end of 2025, and now coordination with national security authorities is underway for commercial launch.
Direct-to-Cell functions as a “cell tower in space”: smartphones connect directly to satellites without extra equipment. Currently, the technology supports SMS, with voice and data services planned in the future.
For Kazakhstan, this is crucial during emergencies. During the 2024 floods, hundreds of base stations were damaged, disrupting communication. Satellite connectivity could serve as a backup channel for urgent messages.
It is also relevant for highways, where coverage is absent due to high infrastructure costs. Direct-to-Cell will allow emergency contact even in remote areas.
The technology is valuable in tourist zones and sparsely populated regions where traditional networks are unprofitable. Developers note that over half of the world’s landmass still lacks terrestrial coverage, making satellites an efficient solution.
In the US, Direct-to-Cell has already proven effective. During Hurricane Helen in 2024 and California wildfires in 2025, people received alerts and sent SMS despite disabled towers. Similarly, it was used during the 2026 winter storm Fern.
For Kazakhstan, these examples show that satellite communication can become part of civil protection, enabling rapid response and resilient connectivity.
Meanwhile, Starlink is entering Kyrgyzstan. In April 2026, Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev met SpaceX representatives in Washington. Both sides confirmed completion of all permits and readiness for a pilot launch.
In Kyrgyzstan, satellite internet will provide access to digital resources for remote areas, schools, and medical facilities.
Thus, satellite internet is gradually expanding across Central Asia. For Kazakhstan, it is a step toward reliable communication in emergencies and remote territories, while for the region it means broader digital opportunities and growth of the creative economy.
Direct-to-Cell functions as a “cell tower in space”: smartphones connect directly to satellites without extra equipment. Currently, the technology supports SMS, with voice and data services planned in the future.
For Kazakhstan, this is crucial during emergencies. During the 2024 floods, hundreds of base stations were damaged, disrupting communication. Satellite connectivity could serve as a backup channel for urgent messages.
It is also relevant for highways, where coverage is absent due to high infrastructure costs. Direct-to-Cell will allow emergency contact even in remote areas.
The technology is valuable in tourist zones and sparsely populated regions where traditional networks are unprofitable. Developers note that over half of the world’s landmass still lacks terrestrial coverage, making satellites an efficient solution.
In the US, Direct-to-Cell has already proven effective. During Hurricane Helen in 2024 and California wildfires in 2025, people received alerts and sent SMS despite disabled towers. Similarly, it was used during the 2026 winter storm Fern.
For Kazakhstan, these examples show that satellite communication can become part of civil protection, enabling rapid response and resilient connectivity.
Meanwhile, Starlink is entering Kyrgyzstan. In April 2026, Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev met SpaceX representatives in Washington. Both sides confirmed completion of all permits and readiness for a pilot launch.
In Kyrgyzstan, satellite internet will provide access to digital resources for remote areas, schools, and medical facilities.
Thus, satellite internet is gradually expanding across Central Asia. For Kazakhstan, it is a step toward reliable communication in emergencies and remote territories, while for the region it means broader digital opportunities and growth of the creative economy.
