Trends

Open RAN testing in Ukraine

Kyivstar and Rakuten begin Open RAN testing in Ukraine, marking a critical milestone for the country’s digital infrastructure development.

Headline

Kyivstar and Rakuten begin Open RAN testing in Ukraine, marking a critical milestone for the country’s digital infrastructure development.

Context

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.

Evidence

Pending intelligence enrichment.

Analysis

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. Also read: Dell’Oro Group predicts flat growth for RAN market Also read: Broadband Success Partners rebrands to BSP 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.