View source for Telecommunications in Ukraine

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{More citations needed|date=March 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}

'''[[Telecommunications]]''' is one of the most modern, diverse and fast-growing sectors in the [[Economy of Ukraine|economy]] of '''[[Ukraine]]'''. Unlike the country's dominating [[export]] industries, telecommunications, as well as the related [[Internet in Ukraine|Internet sector]], remain largely unaffected by the [[Great Recession|global economic crisis]], ranking high in [[Europe]]an and global rankings.

The industry also leads in [[monopoly|demonopolization]] of Ukraine's economy as [[Ukrtelekom]] (once the country's sole telephone provider) was successfully [[privatization|privatized]], and is now losing its [[retail]] [[market share]] to independent, foreign-invested private providers.

The entire population of Ukraine now has [[telephone]] and/or [[mobile phone]] connection;{{efn|except for a few very remote and sparsely inhabited settlements}} [[Internet access]] is universally available in cities and main transport corridors, expanding into smaller settlements.

Ukraine's telecommunication development plan emphasizes further improving domestic trunk lines, international connections, and the mobile cellular system.

During the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], telecommunications [[Starlink satellite services in Ukraine|were provided by the Starlink satellite service]].<ref name=":102">{{Cite news |last1=Stone |first1=Mike |last2=Roulette |first2=Joey |date=2023-06-01 |title=SpaceX's Starlink wins Pentagon contract for satellite services to Ukraine |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/pentagon-buys-starlink-ukraine-statement-2023-06-01/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |archive-date=2023-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601190826/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/pentagon-buys-starlink-ukraine-statement-2023-06-01/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="elon-musk-b2024184">[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/starlink-service-ukraine-elon-musk-b2024184.html Elon Musk says SpaceX's Starlink satellites active over Ukraine after request from embattled country's leaders] {{Webarchive|url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220227/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/starlink-service-ukraine-elon-musk-b2024184.html |date=2022-02-27 }}, [[The Independent]] (26 February 2022)</ref>

== Internet audience ==

{{Empty section|date=February 2024}}

==International data network==
{{expand section|date=April 2013}}
Two new domestic trunk lines are a part of the fibre-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and three Ukrainian links have been installed in the fibre-optic Trans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries; additional international service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia ([[ITUR (cable system)|ITUR]]) fibre-optic submarine cable and by earth stations in the [[Intelsat]], [[Inmarsat]], and [[Intersputnik]] satellite systems.

==Fixed telephone network==
'''[[Telephone]]s - land lines in use:''' 12.681 million (2011)

Upon gaining independence from the USSR in 1991, Ukraine inherited an analogue PSTN telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in many places in disrepair; meanwhile demand overwhelmed the supply with more than 3.5 million households applications for telephone lines pending. Telephone density has since risen and the domestic trunk system is being improved; about one-third of Ukraine's networks are digital, and the majority of regional centres now have digital switching stations. Improvements in local networks and local exchanges continue to lag.

Several independent fixed network providers established themselves in the country's retail market, although Ukrtelecom still dominates it.

==Mobile phone networks==
{{Update|inaccurate=yes|section|date=April 2013}}

===Market penetration===
The mobile cellular telephone system's expansion has slowed, largely due to the saturation of the market, which has reached 125 mobile phones per 100 people.

'''Telephones - mobile cellular:''' 55.578  million (2011)

===Mobile phone networks===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:3%;"| Rank !! style="width:15%;"| Operator !! style="width:30%;"| Technology !! style="width:20%;"| Subscribers<br /><small>(in millions)</small> !! style="width:32%;"| Ownership
!MCC / MNC
|-
|align=right| 1 || [[Kyivstar]]
<small>(Including previous [[Beeline Ukraine]] network)</small>
|900/1800&nbsp;MHz [[GSM]] ([[GPRS]], [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]]) <br />2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]], [[High-Speed Downlink Packet Access|HSDPA]], [[High-Speed Uplink Packet Access|HSUPA]], [[High Speed Packet Access|HSPA]], [[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]], [[DC-HSPA+]] <br />900/1800/2100/2300/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]][[Voice over LTE|<br />VoLTE]] 
| 25.9 (2Q 2021) ||[[VEON|Veon]] 
|25503 and 25502
|-
|align=right| 2 || [[Vodafone Ukraine|Vodafone]]<br /> <small>(Formerly [[MTS (network provider)|MTS Ukraine]])</small> ||900/1800&nbsp;MHz [[GSM]] ([[GPRS]], [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]])<br />2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]], [[High-Speed Downlink Packet Access|HSDPA]], [[High-Speed Uplink Packet Access|HSUPA]], [[High Speed Packet Access|HSPA]], [[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]], [[DC-HSPA+]]<br />900/1800/2100/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]] || 18.9 (2Q 2021) || Bakcell
|25501
|-
|align=right| 3 || [[Lifecell]]<br /> <small>(Formerly ''Life'')</small> ||900/1800&nbsp;MHz [[GSM]] ([[GPRS]], [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]]) <br />2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]], [[High-Speed Downlink Packet Access|HSDPA]], [[High-Speed Uplink Packet Access|HSUPA]], [[High Speed Packet Access|HSPA]], [[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]], [[DC-HSPA+]], 3C-HSDPA <br />900/1800/2100/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]], [[LTE Advanced Pro|LTE-A Pro]]|| 9.9 (Q3 2021) ||[[Turkcell]]
|25506
|-
|align=right| 4 || [[Intertelecom]] ||800&nbsp;MHz [[CDMA2000]], [[EV-DO|CDMA2000 EV-DO rel.0, rev. A, rev. B]]
<small>(The gradual shutdown of the network began in many regions since 2020)</small>
| 1.4 (3Q 2017) || Odinaco Ltd (49%), [[Viktor Gushan]] (35.7%)
|25504
|-
|align=right| 5 || [[TriMob]] ||2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]], [[High-Speed Downlink Packet Access|HSDPA]], [[High-Speed Uplink Packet Access|HSUPA]], [[High Speed Packet Access|HSPA]] 
<small>(Own 3G network in [[Kyiv]] city centre only. Free 2G/3G roaming on [[Vodafone Ukraine|Vodafone]] network available)</small>
| 0.300 (2Q 2018) excluding [[Lycamobile]] || [[Ukrtelecom]]
|25507
|-
|align=right| 6 || [[PEOPLEnet]] ||800&nbsp;MHz [[CDMA2000]], [[EV-DO|CDMA2000 EV-DO]]<br /><small>(Network in [[Dnipropetrovsk Oblast|Dnipropetrovsk]] region only)</small>|| 0.853 (4Q 2012) || Telesystemy Ukrainy
|25521
|}

== Mobile phone manufacturers ==
The following companies in Ukraine are manufacturing mobile phones:

* Borton
* Impression Electronics<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://impression.ua/about-brand/production|title=Производство|website=impression.ua|access-date=2019-02-28|archive-date=2020-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903225204/https://impression.ua/proizvodstvo/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Radio broadcast stations==
{{Main|List of radio stations in Ukraine}}
{{Update|inaccurate=yes|section|date=April 2013}}
300 (2007)

[[Ukrainian Amateur Radio League]]

==Internet in Ukraine==
{{main|Internet in Ukraine}}
{{Update|inaccurate=yes|section|date=April 2013}}

*country code - [[.ua]]
*Internet hosts: 2.173 million (2012)
*Internet users: 41,8 million (2013)

== History ==

=== Russian Invasion of Ukraine ===
{{Main|Starlink satellite services in Ukraine}}
Ukraine's military and government rapidly became dependent on [[SpaceX]]'s [[Starlink satellite services in Ukraine|Starlink satellite services]] during [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian's invasion of Ukraine in 2022]], as Russia attacked key infrastructures including telecommunication ones, and Ukraine was experiencing significant problems with Internet access.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=26 February 2022 |title=@elonmusk while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand |url=https://twitter.com/fedorovmykhailo/status/1497543633293266944 |work=[[Twitter]] |access-date=6 June 2023 |archive-date=14 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014055314/https://twitter.com/FedorovMykhailo/status/1497543633293266944 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=2023-02-09 |title=Fury in Ukraine as Elon Musk's SpaceX limits Starlink use for drones |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/09/zelenskiy-aide-takes-aim-at-curbs-on-ukraine-use-of-starlink-to-pilot-drones-elon-musk |access-date=2023-05-20 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2023-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309133527/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/09/zelenskiy-aide-takes-aim-at-curbs-on-ukraine-use-of-starlink-to-pilot-drones-elon-musk |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":112">{{Cite news |title=How Elon Musk's satellites have saved Ukraine and changed warfare |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2023/01/05/how-elon-musks-satellites-have-saved-ukraine-and-changed-warfare |access-date=2023-06-06 |issn=0013-0613 |archive-date=2023-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923091659/https://www.economist.com/briefing/2023/01/05/how-elon-musks-satellites-have-saved-ukraine-and-changed-warfare |url-status=live }}</ref>

Satellite internet from SpaceX had key telecommunications role such as in the [[Siege of Azovstal]] (April 15–May 20), which helped Ukrainian defenders to resist Russian troops in Mariupol.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Landry |first=Carole |date=2022-07-25 |title=Inside the Azovstal Siege |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/25/briefing/russia-ukraine-war-azovstal.html |access-date=2022-10-15 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2022-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015213203/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/25/briefing/russia-ukraine-war-azovstal.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

While military and government use of Starlink has been the most important aspect of opening Ukraine to low-altitude satellite internet services in early 2022, civilians are also heavily using the technology "to keep in touch with the outside world and tell loved ones that they are alive." During the war, Ukrainians can use Starlink terminals without paying the usual monthly subscription fee.<ref name="kyInd20220903">{{cite news |last=Antoniuk |first=Daryna |date=3 September 2022 |title=How Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet keeps Ukraine online |work=[[Kyiv Independent]] |url=https://kyivindependent.com/tech/how-elon-musks-starlink-satellite-internet-keeps-ukraine-online |access-date=4 September 2022 |archive-date=20 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320080834/https://kyivindependent.com/tech/how-elon-musks-starlink-satellite-internet-keeps-ukraine-online |url-status=live }}</ref>

To pay for the cost of Starlink in Ukraine, SpaceX donated for an estimate of over $100 million,<ref name=":6">{{cite web |last1=Bajak |first1=Frank |date=9 February 2023 |title=Musk deputy's words on Starlink 'weaponization' vex Ukraine |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-elon-musk-spacex-technology-business-c79c81ff4e6a09f4a185e627dad858fa |access-date=28 April 2023 |website=[[The Associated Press]] |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428021116/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-elon-musk-spacex-technology-business-c79c81ff4e6a09f4a185e627dad858fa |url-status=live }}</ref> while an unknown amount was secured by several European countries and the US government.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brodkin |first1=Jon |date=2022-12-20 |title=Ukraine to get 10,000 more Starlink antennas; funding problems are "resolved" |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/12/starlink-will-send-another-10000-satellite-terminals-to-ukraine/ |access-date=19 May 2023 |website=Ars Technica |archive-date=2023-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519175246/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/12/starlink-will-send-another-10000-satellite-terminals-to-ukraine/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":102"/> In June 2023, [[The Pentagon]] communicated that the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] signed a contract with SpaceX's Starlink to buy those satellite services for Ukraine.<ref name=":102"/>

The use of Starlink in [[Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine|Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine]] was however restricted by SpaceX, according to Ukrainian officials.<ref name=":112"/>

==Telecommunications-related government bodies==
*[[Ministry of Infrastructure (Ukraine)|Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine]] ([http://www.mtu.gov.ua/ Official website] {{in lang|uk}})
*[[State Special Communications Service of Ukraine]] ([http://www.dstszi.gov.ua/dstszi/control/en/index;jsessionid=54CF67767342AC5797FD4C3FDD73234B.app9:2 Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401165851/http://www.dstszi.gov.ua/dstszi/control/en/index;jsessionid=54CF67767342AC5797FD4C3FDD73234B.app9:2 |date=2016-04-01 }})
*National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Informatization of Ukraine ([http://www.nkrzi.gov.ua/index.php?r=site/index&pg=1&id=0&language=en Official website])

==See also==
*[[Internet in Ukraine]]
*[[Mobile phone industry in Ukraine]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

===Industry-specific media===
*''[http://watcher.com.ua/ Watcher:]'' {{in lang|uk}} - Ukrainian Internet business and marketing [[online newspaper]] 
*''[http://proit.com.ua/ ProIT]'' {{in lang|ru}} - Ukrainian IT industry online newspaper
*''[http://ain.ua/ AIN]'' {{in lang|ru}} - Ukrainian IT industry online newspaper

===Other===
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ukraine/ CIA World Factbook]

{{Ukraine topics}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Europe topic|Telecommunications in}}

[[Category:Telecommunications in Ukraine| ]]
[[Category:Internet in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Information technology in Ukraine]]