The Cabinet of Ministers has approved changes to the regulations regarding radio frequencies, allowing for the implementation of 5G technology in Ukraine. This was announced by the head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov.
According to the minister, compatibility of 5G with military equipment will be tested in three cities as part of a pilot project that will last two years and occur in two phases. The National Commission for Communications Regulation (NCCIR) and the Ukrainian State Center for Radio Frequencies will assess whether 5G equipment interferes with military networks.
"5G can transmit data ten times faster than 4G, creating new opportunities for exchanging large volumes of information at ultra-high speeds," Fedorov explained.
This pilot project is a significant step towards the full-scale launch of 5G in Ukraine, which is expected to be completed by 2030.
Fedorov noted that the new regulations will also provide greater flexibility for operators, as the 2100 MHz frequency can be utilized not only for 3G but also for 2G and 4G technologies. Additionally, discontinuing the use of frequencies from 694 to 862 MHz for analog and digital television will free them up for mobile communication.
This initiative is important because 5G is the latest wireless communication standard, launched in 2019. It represents the fifth generation of mobile communications based on telecommunication standards (5G/IMT-2020), which aims to deliver significantly higher data transmission speeds, reduced latency, and increased capacity compared to 4G technologies.
In an interview with Forbes, Mykhailo Fedorov mentioned that the pilot 5G project in Ukraine could be launched as early as 2024.
In May, Vodafone tested 5G technology by organizing a telebridge between Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Helsinki, where the network has been operational since 2019. At the end of February, the national regulatory commission permitted Kyivstar to test 5G.
