Kyivstar Launches 5G Pilot Program in Lviv
Rhea-AI Summary
Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV) launched a 5G pilot in Lviv on January 12, 2026, operating on 3500 MHz and 700 MHz bands to test high-speed and wide-coverage use cases under real urban conditions.
The pilot—carried out within a framework set by the Ministry of Digital Transformation—recorded peak download speeds exceeding 2.4 Gbps in pre-launch tests. Kyivstar plans gradual expansion to Kharkiv and Borodianka, with Kyiv and Odesa planned for 2026, while noting a full-scale nationwide rollout depends on the end of the war. Kyivstar reaffirmed a USD 1 billion investment commitment for 2023–2027 toward rebuilding connectivity and digital infrastructure.
Positive
- Recorded peak 5G download speeds exceeding 2.4 Gbps
- Operating 5G on 3500 MHz and 700 MHz bands for speed and coverage
- Announced USD 1 billion investment in Ukraine for 2023–2027
- Serves > 22.5 million mobile customers (scale supports rollout)
Negative
- Full-scale 5G rollout contingent on the end of the war
- Actual commercial speeds may vary due to network congestion and environmental factors
- Testing locations and timeline influenced by government selection and security conditions
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, KYIV gained 0.16%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
KYIV gained 0.65% while most close telecom peers were negative (e.g., LBTYK -2.15%, LBTYA -1.76%, TEO -0.62%), with only GSAT slightly higher at +0.10%, pointing to a stock-specific move rather than a sector rotation.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16 | Earnings timing update | Neutral | +2.2% | Announced dates and call details for FY and Q4 2025 results. |
| Dec 16 | Solar acquisition | Positive | +2.2% | Bought 12.947 MW solar plant to diversify energy and cut supply risk. |
| Dec 01 | National LLM project | Positive | -4.0% | Chosen as strategic lead for Ukrainian large language model initiative. |
| Nov 24 | Starlink launch | Positive | +5.5% | Launched Starlink Direct to Cell SMS service at no extra cost in Ukraine. |
| Oct 31 | Starlink testing | Positive | +5.0% | Began nationwide testing of Starlink Direct to Cell for emergency coverage. |
Recent news has typically led to positive price alignment, with only the national LLM announcement showing a negative divergence.
Over the past few months, Kyivstar has reported several technology and strategic milestones. On Oct 31, 2025 and Nov 24, 2025, it advanced and then launched Starlink Direct to Cell services, both followed by gains above 5%. An Dec 16, 2025 acquisition of a 12.947 MW solar plant and a separate results-release notice also coincided with positive moves. The Dec 1, 2025 national LLM partnership saw a -3.95% reaction, showing not all innovation headlines are rewarded similarly.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details Kyivstar’s first urban 5G pilot in Lviv, adding to recent network upgrades and satellite initiatives. It highlights planned investments of USD 1 billion between 2023–2027 and a large base of over 22.5 million mobile users. Set against prior filings that outline war-related operational risks, investors may track future updates on coverage expansion, service quality metrics, and how capital is deployed across 5G, energy resilience, and digital services.
Key Terms
5g technical
4g technical
direct to cell technical
llm technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
KYIV, Ukraine, Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV; KYIVW), Ukraine's leading digital operator, has launched a 5G test zone in the historical center of Lviv, Ukraine. This marks the company’s first local pilot 5G project, implemented within a framework established by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
The goal of the pilot project is to evaluate the performance of the new technology under real urban conditions. Following a successful evaluation, Kyivstar will gradually expand 5G coverage to other Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv and Borodianka, with Kyiv and Odesa planned for 2026. The Ukraine government determined the testing locations, selecting the most populous cities with advanced infrastructure. A full-scale 5G rollout across Ukraine will only be possible after the war ends.
“Even in the midst of full-scale war — under constant Russian attacks on infrastructure and during blackouts — Ukraine continues to move forward and expand innovation in the telecom sector. The launch of the 5G pilot in Lviv is an important step that we have jointly prepared with mobile operators. Lviv is only the first city. We will soon begin pilots in Borodianka and Kharkiv as well. Our goal is to ensure that Ukrainians stay connected and have access to advanced technologies under any circumstances,” said Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
“Kyivstar is driving Ukraine’s digital transformation with investments in advanced technologies, from piloting 5G in Lviv to pioneering Direct to Cell satellite connectivity through is partnership with Starlink,” said Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar. “Our commitment goes beyond connectivity: we are investing USD 1 billion over 2023-2027 into rebuilding Ukraine’s connectivity and digital infrastructure, from energy resilience for our network to digital services to Ukraine’s own sovereign Ukrainian LLM, powering not just growth for our company but helping support Ukraine’s future recovery.”
The base stations of this new-to-Ukraine standard have already been put into operation in Lviv’s historical downtown. Prior to the pilot launch, Kyivstar carried out comprehensive preparations across its network infrastructure, including ensuring that the 5G activation would not interfere with military communications. The company conducted its first 5G tests in February 2024 at its head office in Kyiv, confirming its technical readiness for broader deployment. In Ukraine, 5G will operate in two frequency bands — 3500 MHz (for high data transmission speeds) and 700 MHz (to ensure wider coverage).
During pre-launch testing in Lviv, Kyivstar’s 5G network achieved peak download speeds exceeding 2.4 Gbps (actual speeds after commercial launch may vary depending on network congestion and other environmental factors).
Kyivstar will continue to focus on its “4G Everywhere” target, which meets the needs of most smartphone users in Ukraine. With Kyivstar’s ongoing network modernization, peak 4G speeds already exceed 1 Gbps in some areas during off-peak hours.
About Kyivstar Group Ltd.
Kyivstar Group Ltd. (“Kyivstar”, the “Group”) is a Nasdaq-listed holding company that operates JSC Kyivstar, the country’s leading digital operator and the first Ukrainian company to have its shares traded on a U.S. stock exchange.
The Group’s companies provide a broad range of connectivity and digital services, including mobile and fixed-line voice and data, ride-hailing, e-health, digital TV, and enterprise solutions such as Big Data, cloud, and cybersecurity.
Together with VEON, Kyivstar intends to invest USD 1 billion in Ukraine between 2023-2027, through social investments in infrastructure and technological development, charitable donations and strategic acquisitions.
For more information, please visit https://investors.kyivstar.ua.
Nasdaq tickers: KYIV; KYIVW
About JSC Kyivstar
JSC Kyivstar is Ukraine’s leading digital operator, serving more than 22.5 million mobile customers and over 1.2 million home internet fixed line customers as of September 30, 2025. The company provides services using a wide range of mobile and fixed technologies, including 4G, Big Data, cloud solutions, cybersecurity services, digital TV, and more. JSC Kyivstar is advancing new telecommunication technologies in Ukraine and together with VEON plans to invest USD 1 billion in this direction between 2023–2027.
The company contributes to overcoming the challenges of wartime and, over the past three years, has allocated more than UAH 3.4 billion to support the Defense Forces, its subscribers, and the implementation of social projects. Kyivstar has operated in Ukraine for 27 years and is recognized as the largest taxpayer in the digital communications market, a top employer, and a socially responsible company.
Additional information: pr@kyivstar.net, www.kyivstar.ua.
Disclaimer
This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to, among other things, Kyivstar’s 5G Pilot Program and development plans as well as Kyivstar Group’s ability to achieve anticipated results and business objectives. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from those expressed by such statements, including risks relating to Kyivstar’s 5G Pilot Program and development plans as well as Kyivstar Group’s ability to achieve anticipated results and business objectives, among others discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in the final prospectus filed by Kyivstar Group with the U.S. Securities and exchange Commission (“SEC”) on December 18, 2025, as amended and supplemented from time to time, and in any other subsequent filings with the SEC by Kyivstar Group.
FAQ
What did Kyivstar announce about its 5G pilot in Lviv on January 12, 2026 (KYIV)?
How will Kyivstar expand 5G after the Lviv pilot (KYIV)?
What investment did Kyivstar commit to for rebuilding Ukraine's digital infrastructure (KYIV)?
Which frequency bands will Kyivstar use for 5G in Ukraine (KYIV)?
Will Kyivstar deploy nationwide 5G immediately after the Lviv pilot (KYIV)?
