Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar has become the first telecom company in the country to fully phase out 3G technology from mass operation. This was announced by the company's CEO, Oleksandr Komarov, in a Facebook post, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. The frequency resources freed up by the retirement of the outdated standard have been redirected by the company to the development and strengthening of its 4G network. The operator began the phased process of switching off 3G back in 2023, and by September 2026 it brought the process to a logical conclusion across the entire network.
Four years of evolution: speed has more than doubled
The main goal of this step is to redistribute the radio-frequency spectrum in favor of the more modern and higher-performing 4G technology. According to the operator, over the past four years the average mobile internet speed on the Kyivstar network has more than doubled: it is now approaching the 100 Mbit/s mark, and in Ukraine's major cities it already exceeds this figure. The company emphasizes that 4G remains the primary mobile connectivity technology in the country, its potential is far from exhausted, and the current speed figures are not the limit.
Why switching off 3G is not just "pressing a button"
Komarov notes that the process of decommissioning the outdated standard required comprehensive preparation and significant resources. "Switching off an outdated technology is significantly harder than simply 'pressing a button.' We had to modernize the network, migrate subscribers to USIM cards and 4G smartphones, invest in VoLTE and VoWiFi… So this is a story about evolution and constant development that does not stop even in continuous time," he wrote. According to media estimates, more than one million of the operator's subscribers migrated to 4G as part of the transition.
Development horizon: 700 MHz frequencies and coverage of "difficult" areas
Further development of the network involves bringing in new frequency bands. In particular, Kyivstar is counting on the holding of a state auction for frequencies in the 700 MHz band. According to the company, this will significantly expand quality coverage in rural areas and along highways, as well as improve signal penetration inside residential and industrial buildings, where high-frequency bands propagate less effectively.
What this means for subscribers
In practice, this means that the operator's network now relies entirely on 4G with support for VoLTE and VoWiFi voice services. Subscribers with outdated devices that do not support 4G are advised to check the compatibility of their smartphone and SIM card (USIM) so as not to be left without mobile internet and voice after the full phase-out of 3G.
