More for media than for people. Why is the Ministry of Digital Transformation launching a pilot 5G project?
"The pilot project will last for two years, occur in two phases, and cover three cities. Its goal is to test the compatibility of 5G with military equipment. This will be managed by the NCCIR (National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Informatization) – EП and the Ukrainian State Center for Radio Frequencies," the minister clarified.
Discussions about launching 5G connectivity in Ukraine have been ongoing for at least the past five years. Former President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on implementing fifth-generation mobile communication in the country. However, the actual implementation of this new technology in public networks is unlikely to be swift.
Fedorov's announcement about launching a pilot project in three cities does not signify a full-fledged network deployment for their residents. Testing and initial launches will likely take place locally. Even those who can connect to 5G will probably not experience a significant difference compared to 4G technology.
Sources in the telecommunications market perceive such government statements as communication campaigns aimed at attracting attention. Why?
First Lviv, then Kyiv and Odesa
On November 1, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers introduced extensive (the text spans 143 pages) changes to the plan for the allocation and use of radio frequency spectrum. According to the explanatory note to the draft government resolution, which is available to EП, the pilot launch of 5G in Ukraine is planned to be conducted in two phases across three cities.
"Initially, we plan to allocate two frequency bands for 5G: 700 MHz and 3400-3800 MHz. The theoretical groundwork for 700 MHz has already been completed, but practical implementation requires coordination with the military. During active combat, they cannot afford this due to constant combat readiness," said Stanislav Pribitko, the director of the mobile communications development department at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, in August 2023.
According to telecommunications expert Roman Khimich, such checks are standard procedures aimed at eliminating the risks of mutual radio interference when using 5G.
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Sources in the telecom market informed EП that Lviv will be the first city to undergo testing. If the equipment does not interfere with military operations, the project will expand to Kyiv and Odesa.
In fact, mobile operators have already tested fifth-generation mobile communication technology multiple times with the government's permission. For instance, in May 2024, Vodafone, in collaboration with Finnish telecommunications equipment manufacturer Nokia, established a test 5G zone at the Ivano-Frankivsk Innovation Center "Promprylad".
There is no talk of a full-fledged network launch in the mentioned cities. Most likely, the deployment of the new technology will occur at several base stations. "Network deployment starts from specific locations, so in testing areas, users will have the opportunity to connect to the 5G network," explains Khimich.
Experts surveyed by EП note that before the rollout of 5G, a conversion of the radio frequency resource is necessary. This means current users must vacate certain frequencies for new needs.
"First, conversion must occur, and then an auction where mobile operators buy these frequencies or acquire them for one hryvnia under the obligation to deploy the network within a specified timeframe. However, in Ukraine, frequencies are usually allocated for money," emphasizes Alexander Glushchenko, a former board member of the Internet Association of Ukraine (IAU).
Fedorov noted that the government decree adopted on November 1 will ensure the cessation of the use of frequencies from 694-862 MHz for analog and digital television and free them up for mobile communication.
According to Glushchenko, users who received television signals on these frequencies will not face significant issues. They will only need to retune their signal reception in auto-search mode. Conversely, for companies currently operating on frequencies from 694-862 MHz, the transition process will be longer and more costly, as they will need to purchase and install equipment for broadcasting on new frequencies.
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In 2018, during the auction for radio frequencies in the low-liquid band of 2500-2700 MHz, Renat Akhmetov's company LLC "MMDS-Ukraine" received compensation of 500 million UAH. This raises the question of who will finance the transition to new frequencies for broadcasters. The short answer is – users of mobile operators' services.
"The amount of compensation that companies previously operating on these frequencies will demand will likely have to be covered by mobile operators competing for the free frequencies at auctions," says Khimich.
Currently, the national network provider for digital television T2, Zeonbud, uses the frequencies in the decimeter range of 470-862 MHz. However, according to Glushchenko, there have been no discussions regarding Zeonbud's transition to new frequencies, conversion, or payments for switching to other frequencies during the post-war period.
5G is not for users
The 5G communication technology offers significantly higher internet speeds, opening new opportunities for users and businesses. While 4G allows for convenient internet use on smartphones, 5G vastly surpasses its predecessor in speed, stability, and capacity.
Moreover, Khimich notes that the maximum declared internet speed with 5G can only be achieved in laboratory conditions, whereas for regular users, these figures will be considerably lower.
5G is best suited for businesses, as it enables the deployment of high-efficiency solutions for smart cities, industrial automation, and autonomous transport. With its high capacity and low latency, this technology allows for infrastructure management, security maintenance, equipment monitoring, and automation of production processes.
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5G also ensures reliable communication between autonomous vehicles and road infrastructure, enhancing safety levels and creating opportunities for new business models in the Internet of Things environment.
In practice, the commercial success of fifth-generation mobile communication is limited, as some of the aforementioned areas are still underdeveloped or do not require 5G for full functionality. Therefore, consumers and businesses worldwide are gradually transitioning to it. By the end of 2025, its share among mobile connections is predicted to only reach 25% (significantly less than the share of 4G).
When will 5G finally arrive and do operators need it?
Sources in the telecom market assert that until the war ends or active fighting ceases, discussing the implementation of 5G is pointless.
The explanatory note to the draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers states that on December 31, 2022, the Ministry of Digital Transformation received a letter from the Ministry of Defense, in which the MoD suggested considering the possibility of conducting practical measurements of fifth-generation mobile communication after the state of martial law ends.
"Discussions about implementing 5G began during the tenure of Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan. Both then and now