Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The mobile operator Kyivstar continues updating its network and is gradually phasing out older 3G technology. In 18 August 2026 of this year, the company will begin another phase of changes.
Where Kyivstar will turn off 3G
The innovations entail replacing 3G with faster 4G. This should improve the speed and quality of mobile Internet, Kyivstar reports.
The changes will affect towns and districts in three regions of Ukraine. Specifically:
Dnipropetrovsk region – Kryvyi Rih and Kryvyi Rih district;
Ivano-Frankivsk region – Howerdanka, Dolyna, Snyatyn, Verkhovynskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kalush districts;
Khmelnytskyi region – Dunayshentsi, Krasyliv, Netishyn, Polonne, Starokostiantyniv, Khmelnytskyi, as well as Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi, and Shepetivka districts.
For residents of these areas, it is important to ensure that their phone supports 4G.
What will happen to the phone after 3G is turned off
If a smartphone supports 4G and the corresponding feature is activated, the subscriber will be able to continue using mobile Internet via LTE. Kyivstar recommends checking the phone settings and, if necessary, activating 4G.
If the SIM card does not support this technology, it can be replaced free of charge with a USIM. The phone number will remain the same. To replace the card, visit the nearest Kyivstar store.
When Kyivstar will definitively abandon 3G
The largest mobile operator in Ukraine, Kyivstar, stated that this year will be the final year for 3G technology in the company’s network, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
We want to strengthen our technological leadership compared with competitors,
– said Alexander Komarov, CEO and President of the company.
According to Komarov, the operator has practically fulfilled its licensing obligations regarding the development of the LTE network. Currently, 4G coverage reaches almost 97% of Ukraine's population. The company also plans to provide LTE connectivity on all major roads of the country. At the same time, Alexander Komarov stated that he does not expect 5G launch in Ukraine before the end of the war.
The most likely scenario is around 12 months after the war.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Уже з 18 серпня: абонентам Київстар повідомили про важливі зміни". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Channel 24.