Kyivstar and Ukrtelecom sign infrastructure sharing deal to accelerate fiber rollout in Ukraine

Ukrainian mobile operators Kyivstar and Ukrtelecom have signed a telecoms infrastructure sharing agreement, a move that could reshape how broadband services are delivered across the country.

The deal, announced this week, allows the two carriers to use parts of each other's networks to expand fiber coverage more quickly and efficiently. Under the agreement, Kyivstar will deliver home internet services and access to its digital ecosystem by leveraging Ukrtelecom's GPON network, while Ukrtelecom will offer optical internet services using Kyivstar's extensive fiber infrastructure on an open-market basis.

The Open Access model is designed to help operators reduce capital expenditures and eliminate the duplication of network infrastructure—a long-standing inefficiency in Ukraine's telecoms sector. For decades, providers have deployed and operated parallel networks, a strategy that has limited the pace of digital expansion and raised costs across the industry.

“For decades, the Ukrainian market has been evolving under a model whereby operators and service providers deployed and operated their own parallel networks. Open Access gives us a practical way to make better use of the infrastructure we’ve already built, while accelerating the rollout of modern digital services,” said Yurii Kurmaz, CEO of Ukrtelecom. “We believe this model will become one of the key drivers behind the next stage of growth in Ukraine’s telecoms sector.”

Ukrtelecom's fiber network currently spans more than 95,000 kilometers, with its GPON service delivering speeds of up to 1Gbps. The company will retain responsibility for the operation and technical maintenance of its network assets, ensuring service reliability throughout the partnership.

Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration. “This Open Access partnership is an important milestone in expanding Ukraine’s digital infrastructure. It lets us reach far more customers with high-quality fiber broadband, while making efficient use of the networks we already have in place,” he said. “For our customers, this means greater opportunities to benefit from Kyivstar Home Internet services and Kyivstar’s digital ecosystem, including converged offerings that combine mobile communications, home internet and television services within a single package. Through this partnership, these opportunities will become available to an even greater number of Ukrainians.”

The first phase of the project will launch in the Odesa, Vinnytsia, and Kirovohrad regions, covering more than one million residents. During this phase, the operators will validate the cooperation model and test the integrated information systems supporting the initiative. Subsequent phases are expected to extend the partnership to other regions of Ukraine, with further announcements planned in the coming months.

The agreement marks a significant step toward a more collaborative and efficient telecoms landscape in Ukraine, potentially serving as a blueprint for other markets facing similar infrastructure challenges.