What happened

On February 14 a test zone of fifth-generation mobile communications (5G) was launched in Kharkiv. The launch was announced by operators Kyivstar, lifecell and Vodafone via LIGA.net. Kharkiv became the third locality in Ukraine with 5G after tests in Lviv and in the central part of Borodianka (Kyiv region) — but the first frontline city where this has been done.

"Launching 5G 30 km from the border with the Russian Federation is not just a technical decision. It is the state's position: development continues even during wartime"

— Stanislav Prybytko, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation

Where coverage is available and how to use it

For now the network operates in NSA (Non-Standalone) mode, meaning the 5G radio part works together with the existing 4G infrastructure. Coverage is concentrated in the city centre: Freedom Square, parts of adjacent streets, the area near the Kharkiv Botanical Garden (the Taras Shevchenko monument), the Lysenko National Opera and Ballet Theater, the philharmonic hall, the dolphinarium and the Derzhprom building.

To use 5G, subscribers need: a USIM or eSIM, a smartphone that supports band n78 (3500 MHz), an up-to-date OS version and a sufficient data allowance in their plan.

Facts and scale

According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation, nearly 400,000 users took advantage of 5G during the tests in Lviv and Borodianka. There are currently 36 5G base stations installed in Ukraine; the pilot will run at least until December 2026. On the day of the Kharkiv launch, Vodafone's 5G service was used for the first time to register a marriage online through Diia.

Why it matters

In short — it’s not just about faster internet. The first frontline 5G has several practical implications: increased resilience of communications in crisis conditions, a test platform for digital services (for example, Diia), and a signal to investors and partners that infrastructure development continues despite security pressures.

Technically, NSA allows services to be rolled out quickly using the existing 4G network, but for the full range of 5G features (low latency, network virtualization) a move to Standalone (SA) is required, along with additional investments in the network core and spectrum. Telematics and emergency services, industrial applications and cloud solutions are the areas that will benefit from further deployment.

Summary

The Kharkiv test is both a technical experiment and a political signal: infrastructure is operating despite threats, while the state and the market are testing how ready services and users are. Next it's up to the operators and the regulator: how quickly coverage will be expanded, who will invest in SA architecture, and how this will affect service accessibility for ordinary users?