Ukraine’s mobile operator Kyivstar and fixed-line operator Ukrtelecom have launched a cooperation agreement based on the Open Access model. The arrangement enables both operators to use parts of each other’s telecom infrastructure, starting with an initial rollout across Odesa, Vinnytsia and Kirovohrad regions.
The infrastructure sharing agreement represents a practical step towards broader optical internet availability across Ukraine, allowing each company to leverage the other’s existing fibre network assets without duplicating costly deployments.
Kyivstar and Ukrtelecom Begin Open Access Cooperation
Under the terms of the cooperation, Kyivstar will use Ukrtelecom’s energy-independent GPON network to deliver home internet services and provide access to its own digital ecosystem. In return, Ukrtelecom will use Kyivstar’s branched optical network to offer optical internet services on an open market basis.
Each operator will independently set its own tariff policy and commercial conditions. Both companies will also remain separately responsible for service support and customer calculations. The network owner in each case retains full responsibility for operation and technical support of its infrastructure. Importantly, the exchange of information between the two companies is restricted to the technical data necessary to provide network access under the project.
Oleksandr Komarov, President and CEO of Kyivstar, said in a press release that cooperation based on the Open Access model is an important step for the development of the Ukrainian telecom market. He noted that it allows for faster expansion of access to high-quality optical internet while making more efficient use of already created infrastructure.
Fibre Networks Support Shared Connectivity Model
Ukrtelecom brings considerable fibre network scale to the arrangement. The company operates more than 95,000 km of optical network across Ukraine and continues large-scale modernisation of its telecom infrastructure throughout the country.
Infrastructure sharing through the Open Access model allows both operators to extend their service reach without the need to build entirely new networks. Kyivstar gains access to Ukrtelecom’s energy-independent GPON infrastructure for fixed broadband delivery, while Ukrtelecom benefits from Kyivstar’s extensive optical network to reach additional customers.
Ukrtelecom CEO Yuriy Kurmaz stated in the press release that the company is convinced this model will become one of the drivers of further development of the Ukrainian telecom market. He added that Ukrtelecom is ready to scale this approach and open new opportunities for the development of modern telecom services in Ukraine.
Infrastructure Sharing to Expand Across Ukraine
The two companies have indicated plans to expand the geography of their cooperation to other regions of Ukraine in the future. The initial deployment across Odesa, Vinnytsia and Kirovohrad regions will serve as the foundation for this broader rollout.
The Open Access model adopted by Kyivstar and Ukrtelecom offers a framework for infrastructure sharing that could support wider network availability without requiring each operator to build parallel fibre networks. By sharing existing optical network assets, the operators aim to bring high-quality broadband connectivity to more Ukrainian households and businesses more quickly than either could achieve alone.
The cooperation keeps both operators independent in their commercial strategies while enabling shared use of physical telecom infrastructure where it makes operational sense.