Mobile network operator Kyivstar has launched 4G communication in the 900 MHz range in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where refarming of radio frequencies and reconfiguration of operator equipment have recently been completed.
“Thus, 4G in the 900 MHz band is already available in all regions of Ukraine. This is the completion of the first important stage of expanding the coverage of high-speed Internet in rural areas, which was launched in June 2020,” the operator’s press service said on Thursday.
Another 84,000 people living in 90 small towns or villages received access to 4G-network from Kyivstar in Donetsk and Luhansk regions today.
“The construction of 4G network in small villages is the most important tool to bridge the digital divide in Ukraine. To make this possible, Kyivstar voluntarily gave up part of its frequencies, which were then distributed among other operators to launch LTE in the 900 MHz band. High-speed Internet is starting to work today in small and remote villages, including those where only 50-100 people live,” President of Kyivstar Alexander Komarov said.
In general, high-speed mobile Internet from Kyivstar is already available in almost 14,000 cities, towns and villages, where 85% of the Ukrainian population lives.
According to the operator, half of these settlements were connected to 4G in 2020.
The company plans to provide at least 90% of the country’s population with high-speed mobile Internet by July 2022.
“The deployment of the national 4G network in rural areas was accelerated thanks to the use of the 900 MHz band, which has a larger coverage radius compared to the 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz bands. This was preceded by two years of painstaking work with the participation of all mobile network operators, the regulator, the Ministry of Digital Transformation and other public bodies,” Kyivstar said.
Since the beginning of 2020, Kyivstar has invested UAH 4.3 billion in the construction of the network, increasing investments by 22% compared to last year, and in general, over the past five years, the company’s expenses, including on the development of 3G and 4G communication in Ukraine, exceeded UAH 28 billion.
The introduction of 4G communication in subway is the issue of the national scale, it is possible to implement the project in due time, according to participants in a meeting devoted to the launch of 4G communication in Kyiv’s subway held by the Kyiv City Council with representatives of the Kyiv City Administration, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Verkhovna Rada, municipal enterprises, mobile communications operators and Internet associations.
“The introduction of 4G communication in subway is a national issue. The law must be implemented. There are legal processes that must be followed. If we combine the efforts of all participants in this process, the project will be implemented within the announced time frame,” advisor to the Mayor of Kyiv Maksym Bakhmatov said.
According to him, now all important technical aspects have been agreed with the subway, and the operators have provided the required technical documentation.
“Operators have already imported the first consignments of special equipment for building a network into the country and are waiting for legal grounds to begin installation work in the subway. The full-fledged implementation of the investment project depends on making a decision by the Kyiv City Council on the fee for telecom access to municipal property,” Corporate & Regulatory Affairs Director at Kyivstar Oleksandr Kogut.
According to the plan, the launch of 4G communications at the first subway stations, namely Akademmistechko, Zhytomyrska, Sviatoshyn, Syrets, Dorohozhychi, Heroiv Dnipra, Minska and Obolon, is expected in March 2020. Until the beginning of 2021, high-speed mobile communications should work at all stations and tunnels of the Kyiv subway.
The lifecell mobile communications operator on July 1, 2018 is to launch high-speed mobile Internet using 4.5G technology (LTE Advanced Pro) in the 1800 MHz band in 232 cities and towns of Ukraine.
“Our license becomes effective on July 1. We are ready to provide 4.5G communications services in in 232 cities and towns of Ukraine,” Director of the mobile lifecell network Mahmut Ünsal Erüreten said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday, adding that the company intends by the end of the year to cover 15 million of the country’s population with this service.
According to him, the company is putting into operation new towers to provide these services.
“The volume of transmitted information will be more powerful, these stations were built by our team of engineers,” he added.
CEO of lifecell Ismet Yazici, this communication standard will be presented in 17 regions of Ukraine.
According to Erüreten, the company’s investments in the launch of 4.5G amounted to $45 million. By the end of the year, another $40 million is planned to be invested.
Synchronously with the launch of the new standard of Internet services, the company in collaboration with General Mobile will bring two smartphones to the market.
“I am very pleased that we are entering the Ukrainian market jointly with lifecell. In 33 countries we were able to introduce the 3G era together,” Board Chairman of General Mobile Sebahattin Yaman said.
He said that General Mobile is entering the Ukrainian market exclusively with lifecell.
