A 5G pilot was launched in the center of Lviv on January 12. Kyivstar, Vodafone, and lifecell subscribers whose smartphones support this technology can try a new level of speed in the coverage area.
A 5G pilot was launched in the center of Lviv on January 12. Kyivstar, Vodafone, and lifecell subscribers whose smartphones support this technology can try a new level of speed in the coverage area.
Currently, more than 20 5G base stations have been built in Lviv, reports the Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov.
This month, 5G will also be launched in Borodyanka, in February in Kharkiv, and later in other cities of Ukraine.
5G coverage is concentrated in the central part of Lviv (Rynok Square and adjacent streets, within a radius of approximately 700 meters from the Town Hall) and in the area of the Main Railway Station. The availability of 5G signal may also depend on the location and density of buildings, and access to the new generation network may also be limited indoors.
"To use 5G, lifecell subscribers need to have a USIM or eSIM, a smartphone with support for the n78 band (3500 MHz), an up-to-date version of the operating system, and an active tariff plan. Currently, 29% of all devices in the lifecell network technically support 5G, and in large cities this figure reaches 40%. At the same time, 99% of such devices support the 3500 MHz band. About 90% of 5G terminals in the lifecell network are from Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi. Software support for 5G has already been activated in the vast majority of manufacturers," lifecell explained.
"All Vodafone subscribers with smartphones with 5G support can try it without connecting additional services. Traffic is charged as in 4G. Checking the 5G support of your SIM card is simple: dial *222# and get an answer. If your card works in 4G, it will also support 5G. If your phone supports 5G, check in the settings whether the network type "5G" is selected," Vodafone explained.
"To use 5G, Kyivstar subscribers must have a smartphone that supports the technology, a USIM SIM card (the same type of SIM cards as for 4G) and be in a 5G coverage area. Tariffs will be charged in accordance with the terms of the subscriber's current tariff plan," Kyivstar noted.
Mobile operators have already tested 5G in the Lviv region in 2024. For example, lifecell tested the technology in Lviv, Vodafone together with Nokia in the city of Vynnyky.
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.
