“Today, a pilot 5G network was launched in central Lviv," Fedorov wrote.
"The main advantage of this technology is data transmission speed — about 500 Mbps per user.”
Lviv is turning into a “technological laboratory” that will help refine all technical aspects ahead of a nationwide rollout. The city has one of the highest rates of 5G-ready smartphones in Ukraine. More than 20 5G base stations have already been built in Lviv, Fedorov added.
After coordination with Ukraine’s General Staff and successful testing, the project will move to the scaling stage.
In January, the 5G network will begin operating in Borodyanka, in February — in Kharkiv, and later it is planned to be launched in other Ukrainian cities.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation highlighted that the development of electronic communications has been one of its key priorities since the Ministry’s creation. A full-scale launch of 5G was initially planned for 2022, but implementation was postponed due to security concerns following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Fedorov earlier noted that 5G operates on specific frequencies and must therefore be compatible with military aircraft, radar systems, and other electronic warfare equipment.
On Aug. 14, the Cabinet of Ministers added Lviv, Kharkiv, and Borodyanka to the list of cities selected for 5G testing. All three have suffered significant damage from Russian attacks, and testing the technology under such challenging conditions is considered particularly important.
By 2030, Ukraine plans to gradually transition from 3G to modern communication standards, including 4G and beyond.