4iG Group to Launch Starlink Mobile in Hungary and Albania

Hungarian tech and defense conglomerate 4iG Group will launch SpaceX's Starlink Mobile service in specific European markets. The companies announced the partnership on September 2, outlining three initiatives: the current Starlink Mobile service, a future V2 version, and sovereign network solutions.

4iG Group will first roll out the commercial Starlink Mobile service in Hungary and Albania. This service, formerly known as Starlink Direct-to-Cell, allows standard, unmodified mobile phones to connect directly to Starlink satellites to supplement ground-based coverage. According to the announcement, the exact rollout schedule will depend on regulatory, technical, and commercial conditions in each country.

The V2 Service and Satellite Scale

A separate initiative involves deploying the next-generation Starlink Mobile V2 service. This future offering is planned for Hungary, Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. It will operate using 2GHz spectrum priority rights that SpaceX acquired from EchoStar.

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell recently stated the company plans to start launching the second-generation Starlink Mobile satellites next year, aiming to provide service by the end of that same year. Shotwell said the second-generation constellation will likely be about ten times larger than the current one, which consists of roughly 650 satellites.

In the 4iG announcement, Shotwell commented, "4iG Group's forward-leaning adoption of Starlink Mobile, including our next-gen V2 constellation technology, will deliver resilient direct-to-device connectivity." She added that V2 will enable high-speed broadband to phones and harmonize the use of 2GHz spectrum globally.

Deutsche Telekom was the first company to sign on for the Mobile V2 service, with plans to deploy it across ten European countries.

Sovereign Solutions Offering

The third pillar of the partnership is a sovereign solutions offering scheduled to launch next year. Described as an integrated service with augmented satellite communications and end-to-end secured data communications, it is designed to provide broadband connectivity and secure sovereign network infrastructure.

4iG Group Chairman and CEO Gellért Jászai said the companies developed a "first-of-its kind model" combining Starlink's satellite-to-mobile technology with sovereign solutions. "We are proud to be leading this vision in Europe and setting a new global standard of what's possible," Jászai commented.

Existing Starlink Mobile Operators

The source notes that other telecom operators are already using the technology. Both Kyivstar in Ukraine and Virgin O2 in the United Kingdom currently operate Starlink Mobile services. The 4iG Group initiative expands this direct-to-cell satellite connectivity further into Central and Southeastern Europe.