5G pilot project in Lviv: what is known about the launch and plans for 2026
12 January 16:32
On January 12, pilot testing of fifth-generation mobile communications (5G) began in the center of Lviv. This is the first practical launch of the technology in Ukraine, according to "Komersant Ukrainian", citing statements from the Ministry of Digital Transformation and mobile operators.
Lviv — a testing ground for 5G
As explained by Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, Lviv was not chosen by chance. The city has one of the highest levels of 5G-enabled smartphone usage in Ukraine, as well as a ready-made infrastructure.
“Lviv is becoming a technological laboratory that will help work out all the technical details before the national launch. More than 20 5G base stations have already been built,” Fedorov said.
The main advantage of the new technology is data transfer speeds of up to 500 Mbit/s per subscriber, as well as minimal signal delay.
Where else will 5G be available?
According to the minister, pilot testing of 5G will be expanded:
- in January — Borodyanka;
- in February — Kharkiv;
- later — other cities in Ukraine.
“While the enemy is trying to destroy our infrastructure, we continue to modernize the country based on the latest technologies. The 5G pilot is a signal to the world that Ukraine is moving into the future,” Fedorov emphasized.
How to connect to 5G
Vodafone and Kyivstar explained that no additional services need to be connected. If the smartphone supports 5G and the subscriber is within the coverage area, the network will work automatically.
Vodafone recommends:
- dial *222# to check your SIM card;
- make sure that the 5G network type is selected in the phone settings.
Traffic is billed in the same way as for 4G.
What 5G offers in practice
The National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications emphasizes that the fifth generation of communications provides dozens of times higher speed, greater network capacity, and minimal delays compared to 4G.
This opens up new opportunities for:
- digital services and business;
- industry and security systems;
- telemedicine;
- IoT and Big Data;
- stable video conferencing and online gaming.
Why is this only a test?
The pilot launch is not a full-fledged commercial launch of 5G. Earlier, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Stanislav Prybyitko stated that a full launch is only possible after the end of martial law, and partial 5G coverage of the country could become a reality by 2030.
It should be noted that Ukraine announced its first steps toward implementing 5G back in 2020.
In May 2023, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed the start of testing.
Global trends show that the EU plans to cover all cities and transport routes with 5G by 2030, while the US and South Korea deployed their networks back in 2019–2020.
For Ukraine, which is at war and at the same time developing its digital infrastructure, 5G is a symbol of “post-war recovery” and integration into the global technological space.
The launch of the 5G pilot in Lviv was an important milestone in Ukraine’s technological development. Even in the midst of a full-scale war, the state continues to test and implement innovative solutions, paving the way for the future full-scale launch of the fifth-generation network across the country.
