Starlink and Veon Ltd. target remote connectivity in Central Asia and beyond

Dubai-based telecommunication company Veon Ltd. is in discussions with Elon Musk’s Starlink to expand their partnership and bring satellite-powered cellular services to international markets, reports a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.

Veon aims to provide space-based connectivity in remote areas of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, where terrestrial networks cannot reach, according to CEO Kaan Terzioglu, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“Terrestrial networks have their limits,” Terzioglu said. “During times of floods or energy deficiencies, which our markets are exposed to, we truly believe that markets need both space-based and terrestrial network coverage.”

Starlink, a unit of SpaceX, is among the few companies working to deliver satellite connectivity directly to consumer smartphones. However, the service is not yet widely available commercially. Last year, Starlink received U.S. regulatory approval to provide satellite coverage for consumer mobile phones, complementing T-Mobile US Inc.’s network. Italy has also begun early talks with SpaceX to secure government communications, according to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Terzioglu noted that any deals would depend on spectrum allocation, which can be costly and sometimes unavailable. Veon’s growth strategy focuses on providing telecom access to underserved markets and expanding into sectors like financial services and entertainment.

Veon is particularly interested in markets such as Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Mexico. “We are continuously looking for under-performing assets in these countries,” Terzioglu said.

Veon Ltd. (formerly VimpelCom Ltd.), also known as VEON Group, is a multinational telecom and digital services company headquartered in Dubai and listed on NASDAQ. Operating in six markets across Europe and Asia—Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan—it manages brands like Banglalink, Jazz, Kyivstar, and Beeline. As of 2024, VEON served 160 million customers, including 1.8 million fixed-line users, with 111 million monthly active digital services users spanning mobile finance, entertainment, health, and education.

Earlier, it was reported that Kazakhstan surpassed Japan in the global internet speed rankings, according to the Speedtest Global Index, which summarized the results for December 2024.