The largest Ukrainian telecom operator Kyivstar has completed a ten-year era of using third-generation communications. The company was the first in the domestic market to withdraw 3G technology from mass operation, transferring the freed radio frequencies to the needs of the more modern 4G (LTE) standard.
The largest Ukrainian telecom operator Kyivstar has completed a ten-year era of using third-generation communications. The company was the first in the domestic market to withdraw 3G technology from mass operation, transferring the freed radio frequencies to the needs of the more modern 4G (LTE) standard.
The complete shutdown of third-generation communications was announced by the president of Kyivstar, Oleksandr Komarov.
According to him, the phased rollback of the outdated network began back in 2023. Thanks to the redistribution of frequency resources, the operator managed to significantly increase the bandwidth of the current network. As a result, over the past four years, the average mobile Internet speed has more than doubled, approaching the 100 Mbps mark, and in large cities even exceeding it.
The company's head emphasized that the abandonment of 3G was a long and technically complex process. "Turning off outdated technology is much more difficult than simply "pressing a button". It was necessary to modernize the network, transfer subscribers to USIM and 4G smartphones, and invest in new voice transmission technologies VoLTE and VoWiFi," Komarov explained, adding that the development of the infrastructure did not stop despite the war.
Going forward, the operator plans to focus on the development of 4G, which currently remains the main mobile communications technology in the country. To improve coverage, particularly in rural areas, on highways and inside buildings, the company expects the state to hold an auction for radio frequencies in the 700 MHz band.
Recall that the final shutdown of 3G in Ukraine is scheduled for December 31, 2030. The Ministry of Digital Affairs believes that a specific date for the termination of 3G support will allow operators to more clearly plan network modernization, avoid technological lag, and facilitate the transition of subscribers to modern communication standards. Ukrainian operators began to gradually turn off 3G in early 2025 - in individual settlements and regions.
