- Kyivstar and Rakuten to Begin In-Country Testing
- A Milestone for Ukraine’s Digital Infrastructure Development
What happened: Open RAN testing to boost Ukraine’s digital infrastructure
Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest telecommunications operator, is set to begin testing Open RAN technology in partnership with Rakuten Mobile. The testing will be conducted in a controlled laboratory environment, focusing on Rakuten Symphony’s RAN portfolio and its Cloud-Native Platform.
This collaboration aims to enhance Kyivstar’s network capabilities and contribute to Ukraine’s long-term strategy for critical digital infrastructure development. Kyivstar, a subsidiary of the Veon Group, signed the Open RAN partnership with Rakuten last year.
The company has been actively expanding its 4G network, with plans to cover 98% of Ukraine’s population by the end of 2026. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Kyivstar has built 1,895 new LTE base stations and upgraded 13,200 existing ones.
The Open RAN initiative is expected to further strengthen the network’s resilience and efficiency.
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Why it’s important
The deployment of Open RAN technology is a significant step towards diversifying supply chain security and promoting competition in the telecommunications industry. Open RAN networks allow operators to mix and match vendors, driving cost efficiencies and enhancing network performance.
For Kyivstar, this initiative is crucial in rebuilding Ukraine’s digital infrastructure amidst ongoing challenges. The testing phase also marks a critical milestone in Kyivstar’s long-term strategy, supported by Veon’s $1 billion investment over the period 2023-2027.
