CEO of Kyivstar Oleksandr Komarov said that currently the scope of 5G in Ukraine is not as large as in Western countries, but it is worth starting to implement the technology now.
CEO of Kyivstar Oleksandr Komarov said that currently the scope of 5G in Ukraine is not as large as in Western countries, but it is worth starting to implement the technology now.
Komarov wrote about this in a column for NV Business. He noted that small pilot projects for testing 5G started in January in the center of Lviv and in Borodyanka, Kyiv region. Testing is planned in limited locations in Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Odessa.
«We at Kyivstar are guided by strategic optimism. Therefore, we consider the current local testing as a small but important practical step for the full launch of 5G in the post-war period,» said the head of Kyivstar.
He said that for an ordinary user, 5G does not look like a revolutionary leap, but rather an evolution, because «LTE/4G has proven itself to be effective.» According to him, during minimal load in some locations, the peak speed in the Kyivstar 4G network exceeds 1 Gbit/s. During testing in 5G real-world urban conditions in Lviv, the company recorded a speed of about 1.5 Gbit/s.
«The most interesting and popular 5G standard in the world is for the so-called enterprise cases. In simple words, for big business and large-scale automation of processes… But most of the modern options for using 5G in the enterprise are, unfortunately, simply irrelevant for Ukraine,» said Oleksandr Komarov.
He believes that the scope of 5G applications in Ukraine may not yet be as broad as in other countries.
«But it is certainly necessary to implement a new standard. Previous experience with the delayed transition to 3G in Ukraine has shown that it is better not to miss or delay any new technological stage. Testing 5G is synchronization with the global technological cycle and smooth preparation of the network for future needs,» explained the president of Kyivstar.
He pointed out that full-fledged 5G is possible only if it is launched simultaneously in two bands — 700 MHz and 3500 MHz, which are currently not available to mobile operators. However, the 700 MHz auction may take place as early as this fall. This band will also help improve 4G coverage.
«According to global industry statistics, 5G base stations consume on average 2−3 times more electricity than LTE. The reason for this is the use of active antenna units (AAU) with support for massive MIMO technology. In conditions of electricity shortage, this aspect also affects decisions regarding new radio technology,» Komarov noted.
The head of Kyivstar recalled that because of this, 5G will be able to fully operate in Ukraine after the end of the war.
We remind you that on January 12, a 5G pilot was launched in the center of Lviv. Kyivstar, Vodafone, and lifecell subscribers whose smartphones support this technology can try a new level of speed in the coverage area.
In 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a strategy for the development of the telecom sector in Ukraine until 2030, which also includes the implementation of 5G.
