Kyivstar and Ukrtelecom Partner to Expand Fiber Internet in Ukraine

Kyivstar and Ukrtelecom have signed a cooperation agreement under an Open Access model, announced on August 17, 2026. The partnership enables the reciprocal use of both telecommunications operators’ fiber networks across Ukraine. By leveraging Ukrtelecom’s non-volatile GPON infrastructure and Kyivstar’s extensive optical network, the operators aim to accelerate optical internet coverage and modern digital services for millions of residents.

Infrastructure Sharing Under the Open Access Model

The telecommunications landscape in Ukraine is undergoing a structural shift. According to disclosures from Kyivstar Group Ltd., listed on Nasdaq under the ticker KYIV, the two operators are pooling their physical assets without merging commercial operations. Under the terms of the agreement, Kyivstar will deploy Home Internet services and grant access to its digital ecosystem by running traffic over Ukrtelecom’s GPON network. Conversely, Ukrtelecom will deliver optical internet services utilizing Kyivstar’s expansive fiber footprint.

This reciprocity operates on an open market basis. It follows principles promoted by the FTTH Council Europe, which maintains that open-access models foster fair and transparent competition among service providers. Ukrtelecom brings more than 95,000 kilometers of existing optical networks to the alliance, creating an immediate backbone for rapid service scaling.

Network efficiency sits at the core of this engineering choice. Instead of overbuilding parallel fiber paths in densely populated sectors, both entities reduce capital expenditure by utilizing pre-existing outside plant infrastructure. Ukrtelecom retains full technical responsibility for operating and maintaining its physical network. Kyivstar manages its own subscriber billing, customer support, and tariff policies.

Regional Rollout Phases and System Integration

Execution of the partnership begins with a targeted first phase. According to dev.ua reporting, the initial deployment focuses on the Odesa, Vinnytsia, and Kirovohrad regions. This localized launch will validate the interaction models and test the information system integrations built between the two corporate architectures.

Over one million residents will fall within the footprint of this initial rollout. Data exchange between the companies is strictly compartmentalized. Telemetry and subscriber metadata passing across organizational boundaries are restricted solely to the technical parameters required to provision network access. Each operator continues to independently govern its commercial relationships.

Executive Perspectives on Market Evolution

Yurii Kurmaz, CEO of Ukrtelecom, emphasized the operational velocity enabled by the agreement, stating, “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.” Kurmaz added that the model is positioned to drive the next growth phase in the country’s telecommunications sector.

Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar, underscored the consumer-facing benefits of the infrastructure exchange. “This Open Access partnership is an important milestone in expanding Ukraine’s digital infrastructure,” Komarov noted. “It lets us reach far more customers with high-quality fiber broadband, while making efficient use of the networks we already have in place.” For end-users, the integration facilitates bundled packages encompassing mobile communications, fixed home internet, and digital television services.

The Broader Enterprise and Market Context

This infrastructure sharing agreement arrives as fiber demand continues to generate tangible revenue growth across the sector. Ukrtelecom previously reported rising revenues up to UAH 2.78 billion, driven directly by surging market demand for reliable fiber-optic connections. Meanwhile, Kyivstar continues to diversify its corporate portfolio, balancing core connectivity offerings with broader digital ecosystem investments, including enterprise cloud, big data, and cybersecurity solutions.

As the initial deployment across Odesa, Vinnytsia, and Kirovohrad concludes its validation phase, both operators plan to scale the Open Access framework into additional geographical regions across Ukraine.