Kyivstar, Vodafone and lifecell launched open 5G testing in Odessa

Herman Bogapov
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Kyivstar, Vodafone and lifecell launched open 5G testing in Odessa

Odesa became the fifth city in Ukraine where large-scale open testing of fifth-generation technology started (5G). National mobile operators Kyivstar, Vodafone Ukraine and lifecell together with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine deployed new standard base stations in the most intensive locations of the city.

In general, there are already functioning in Ukraine 340 5G base stations, and more than 100,000 people have used new generation communication services as part of pilot tests 3,8 million unique subscribersThe average data download speed in real-world conditions is 600–800 Mbps, and peak rates are reaching record highs 2,4 Gbit/s.

Geography of 5G coverage in Odessa by operators

5G testing in Odessa is taking place in accordance with the standard 5G NSA (Non-Standalone) in the range 3500 MHz (n78), which allows you to quickly deploy 5G radio on top of existing 4G/LTE infrastructure.

1. Vodafone Ukraine

Vodafone's 5G network covered the historical and business center of Odessa: Prymorsky Boulevard, Koblevska Street, Soborna Square, Deribasovskaya Square, Gretskaya Square, Starosinnaya and Pryvokzalnaya Squares, as well as Kulikovo Field.

On the occasion of the launch of September 10 to 21 An interactive AI installation is operating in the Athens Shopping Center (Greek Square, 3/4) Future You, where visitors can create their own AI avatar and communicate with it via a superfast network.

Olga Ustinova, CEO of Vodafone Ukraine:
"For us, 5G is not just a new communication standard, but the next stage in the development of Ukraine's digital infrastructure. Each new launch provides practical experience for the future scaling of the technology, and customers have access to the capabilities of the next-generation network.".

2. lifecell

The operator covered the areas with the highest seasonal and tourist traffic: the historical center (parts of Sadovaya, Preobrazhenskaya, Gogolya, Gavannaya, Deribasovskaya, Gretskaya, Richelievskaya, Italskaya streets), the Arcadia district and the waiting room of the Odessa railway station. The share of users with 5G smartphones in the lifecell network in Odessa reaches 41 %, and the daily consumption of 5G traffic is 10 TB.

3. Kyivstar

Kyivstar's 5G coverage covers the historical part of the city, Primorsky Boulevard, Potemkin Stairs and adjacent neighborhoods. During tests, the maximum speed in the operator's network reached 2,4 Gbit/sEvery day, more than 500,000 people connect to Kyivstar's 5G network across the country. 200 thousand subscribers.
daily consumption of 5G traffic is 10 TB

How to connect and test 5G in Odessa

More than 30% of Ukrainian smartphones support 5G hardware. To use the service no need to change your tariff plan or connect paid services — traffic is billed as regular 4G/LTE.

Instructions for self-connection:

  1. Check your card and smartphone: USIM or eSIM cards and smartphones with band support are suitable n78 (3500 MHz). Vodafone subscribers can dial the combination *222# for verification;
  2. Enable 5G in settings: on the menu "Mobile network" or "Cellular data" select auto mode 5G / 4G / 3G;
  3. Turn off power saving mode: devices often forcibly limit the 5G module to save battery power;
  4. Restart the network: Turn Airplane Mode on and off or restart your smartphone to register with a new base station.

Comparison of 5G pilot launches in Ukraine

OperatorCoverage in OdessaMaximum speedGeography of the 5G pilot
Vodafone UkraineCenter, Deribasovskaya, Kulykove Poleup to 2,0 GbpsKyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Borodyanka, Odesa
lifecellCenter, Arcadia, Railway Stationup to 1,5 GbpsKyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Borodyanka, Odesa
KyivstarPrimorsky Boulevard, Potemkin Stairsup to 2,4 GbpsKyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Borodyanka, Odesa

HiTech Expert Take

The launch of open 5G testing in Odessa by three leading operators is a key stage in preparing the national telecom infrastructure for a full-fledged commercial launch after the end of martial law. Testing NSA technology at a frequency of 3500 MHz in a large port and tourist metropolis allows to unload existing LTE networks in crowded places and accumulate the necessary experience in working with equipment in difficult climatic and terrain conditions.

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