Proximus Global and Starlink Partner to Bring Direct-to-Cell Satellite Connectivity Across Europe

Proximus Global and Starlink have launched a strategic partnership that positions BICS, Proximus Global’s international communications arm, as Starlink’s preferred IPX provider in Europe for its expanding direct-to-cell satellite services. The collaboration strengthens Starlink’s ability to deliver seamless mobile connectivity across the continent and lays the technical foundation for its next-generation constellation capable of bringing broadband directly to standard smartphones.

At the core of the partnership is Proximus Global’s IPX network, long established as a trusted interconnection layer for mobile roaming. Functioning as a secure, high-reliability exchange environment, the IPX acts as the critical bridge between Starlink’s low Earth orbit satellites and Europe’s mobile network operators (MNOs). This enables ordinary smartphones to connect directly to satellites in areas with no terrestrial coverage, a crucial capability as demand for resilient non-terrestrial networks (NTN) continues to accelerate.

Mike Nicolls, Starlink’s VP of Engineering, emphasized the strategic significance of the collaboration:

“This partnership ensures Starlink’s next-generation constellation can leverage harmonized spectrum to deliver the most powerful satellite-to-mobile service across Europe. It is a vital step toward eliminating mobile dead zones and securing seamless, resilient connectivity when it matters most.”

Kyivstar Becomes the First European Operator to Benefit

The first operator to come online through this partnership is Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile and digital services provider, serving nearly 22.5 million users. The integration showcases how satellite-enabled direct-to-cell connectivity can sustain communications even when critical terrestrial infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.

In conflict zones or crisis environments, where base stations, fiber backbones, or power grids may be compromised, direct-to-satellite communications have become indispensable. For Ukraine, the Starlink–Proximus Global–Kyivstar ecosystem demonstrates how emergency resilience and national-scale connectivity can be preserved despite severe operational disruptions.

A Win–Win Model for Operators, Satellite Providers, and Users

Ben Vandermeulen, Chief Revenue Officer at Proximus Global, underscored the broader market impact:

“Satellites are transformative, but they are not inherently disruptive. Our IPX serves as the bridge: satellite providers reach broader consumer bases, operators fill critical coverage gaps, and end-users gain more reliable connectivity. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

For Proximus Global, the partnership marks an important milestone in its mission to interconnect terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks at scale. Building on more than two decades of IPX leadership through BICS, the company is positioning itself as a central enabler for global hybrid communications, where satellite and mobile ecosystems converge to deliver ubiquitous, resilient coverage.

As Europe advances toward seamless multi-orbit communication networks, this collaboration signals a decisive step forward in eliminating coverage gaps, strengthening emergency resilience, and accelerating the adoption of satellite-driven mobile services across the continent.