Starlink Mobile is pushing further into Europe. The service announced a partnership with 4iG Group, a major Central and Eastern European telecom operator, to bring direct-to-cell connectivity to four countries — starting with Hungary and Albania, then extending next-generation V2 coverage to Montenegro and North Macedonia.
The initial Hungary and Albania rollout focuses on apps and messaging — core connectivity for users in remote or underserved areas where traditional cell infrastructure is thin or absent. The follow-on V2 expansion to Montenegro and North Macedonia is described as delivering high-speed service, suggesting a more capable tier beyond basic messaging once the next-generation satellite hardware is in position.
4iG Group is a logical partner for this kind of regional push. The Budapest-based conglomerate has been aggressively expanding its telecom footprint across the Balkans and Central Europe, giving Starlink Mobile an established distribution and regulatory pathway into markets that would otherwise require building relationships from scratch. For SpaceX, it's the same playbook used elsewhere — pair with a regional incumbent to accelerate licensing and customer reach rather than entering each market independently.
The phased structure of the rollout is worth noting: Hungary and Albania get connectivity first, while Montenegro and North Macedonia wait for V2. That gap likely reflects satellite coverage density and spectrum agreements rather than commercial prioritization. As SpaceX continues deploying its V2 direct-to-cell constellation, the coverage map for these newer markets should fill in relatively quickly. For our full SpaceX coverage, including Starlink milestones and constellation updates, check the archive.
Sources & reporting notes
The links below identify the material source records used for this report.
- @Starlink on X (2026-09-02T05:42:00.000Z) — Direct source
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