Ukraine’s largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, has announced the completion of its mass transition away from third-generation network use, a development that has reshaped spectrum utilisation across the country. The Kyivstar network migration effort resulted in more than 1 million subscribers moving to 4G, with the freed-up spectrum resources redirected to strengthen LTE network development and expand 4G capacity nationwide.
According to a company statement published on September 7, 2026, the phased 3G phase-out began in 2023 and covered all regions of Ukraine. By discontinuing mass 3G use, Kyivstar said available 4G bandwidth increased by 25 percent. The operator also confirmed that 20 MHz of the 2100 MHz band was redistributed in favour of its LTE network development infrastructure, enabling measurable improvements in mobile internet speed and service stability for subscribers across the country.
Speed and Performance Gains Reported by Kyivstar
Kyivstar reported that, as a result of the spectrum refarming, data transfer speeds on its network increased by 20 to 40 percent depending on location. The company also said that average mobile internet speed more than doubled between 2022 and 2026. As of August 2026, Kyivstar stated that the average download speed on its network was almost 100 Mbps, with higher figures recorded in major cities.
These performance figures, while notable, are based on the operator’s own measurements and have not been independently verified. The 4G expansion delivered through the Kyivstar network migration reflects the company’s broader strategy of reallocating legacy 3G spectrum to support growing mobile data demand and improve LTE network development across Ukrainian regions.
Starting August 18, 2026, Kyivstar began disabling 3G technology in additional populated areas, including settlements in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Khmelnytsky regions, where the corresponding frequencies were redistributed to 4G.
Limited B2B 3G Retention and Broader Industry Context
While the mass 3G phase-out is complete, Kyivstar noted that 3G technology will be temporarily retained for a limited number of B2B customers. This retention is due to the specific location of their equipment, and the company said the transition of these clients to 4G is planned for the near future.
Separately, another Ukrainian operator, lifecell, announced a 3G shutdown in settlements across 17 regions beginning September 3, 2026, transitioning those areas to 4G and LTE technology. This parallel move underscores a broader industry shift away from legacy mobile networks across Ukraine, though the Kyivstar network migration remains the most significant in scale given the number of subscribers involved.
The reallocation of legacy 3G spectrum toward expanded LTE capacity marks a substantial step in modernising Ukraine’s mobile infrastructure. With more than 1 million users already migrated and the 4G expansion delivering measurable gains in bandwidth and mobile internet speed, Kyivstar’s spectrum refarming effort demonstrates the operational value of retiring older network technologies, even as a small number of B2B clients temporarily remain on 3G pending their planned transition.