Kyivstar Group Ltd. has launched its first local 5G pilot in the historic center of Lviv, marking a significant milestone in the operator’s strategy to expand high‑speed connectivity across Ukraine. The pilot demonstrates Kyivstar’s commitment to maintaining advanced network capabilities amid ongoing conflict and positions the company as a key digital infrastructure provider for both civilian and governmental users.
The test zone operates on two frequency bands—3500 MHz for high‑speed data and 700 MHz for broader coverage—and achieved peak download speeds exceeding 2.4 Gbps during pre‑launch testing. These technical specifications provide a robust foundation for future 5G services, offering both high capacity and wide coverage in a densely populated urban area.
Kyivstar plans to extend the pilot to Kharkiv and Borodianka in the coming months, with Kyiv and Odesa slated for later in 2026. A full‑scale rollout will be contingent on the end of the war, reflecting the company’s phased approach to deployment and its focus on operational resilience in a conflict‑affected environment.
The launch is part of a broader $1 billion investment commitment that Kyivstar has pledged for 2023‑2027 to rebuild and modernize Ukraine’s connectivity and digital infrastructure. The operator serves over 22.5 million mobile customers and 1.2 million home‑internet customers, and it is actively diversifying into cloud services, cybersecurity, digital health, and ride‑hailing, while maintaining a strong 4G network that already delivers peak speeds above 1 Gbps in some areas.
"Even in the midst of full‑scale war, Ukraine continues to move forward and expand innovation in the telecom sector," said Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation. “The launch of the 5G pilot in Lviv is an important step that we have jointly prepared with mobile operators.” CEO Oleksandr Komarov added, “Kyivstar is driving Ukraine’s digital transformation with investments in advanced technologies, from 5G pilots to Starlink Direct‑to‑Cell connectivity, and a $1 billion commitment to rebuild the country’s connectivity and digital infrastructure.”
The pilot underscores Kyivstar’s broader strategy to build a resilient, future‑ready network amid war‑time challenges. The company’s pursuit of a Nasdaq listing, its development of a sovereign Ukrainian LLM, and its recent cyber‑attack resilience measures all point to a long‑term vision that balances immediate operational needs with strategic growth in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
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