From November 25, 2025, Kyivstar will begin transferring 2100MHz frequencies from legacy 3G to 4G in a number of regions to increase the speed and stability of mobile Internet and prepare the network for the implementation of 5G.
The operator announced the changes on its website, which lists specific areas and provides advice to subscribers on switching to 4G.
The update will cover part of six areas:
Chernivtsi region — Vyzhnytskyi and Dnistrovskyi districts.
Ivano-Frankivsk — Kosiv and Kolomyia districts.
Kyiv region — Bila Tserkva district.
Rivne region — Dubno district.
Transcarpathia — Mukachevo district.
Zhytomyr region — Korosten district.
The operator emphasizes that this is another stage of modernization: the rejection of 3G at 2100 MHz allows you to «expand the pipe» of 4G without additional base stations. After previous 3G shutdowns, the average 4G speed, according to Kyivstar, increased by 36% in Odessa, by 41% in Kyiv and by 68% in Lviv.
What subscribers need
Check your smartphone. Enable automatic network selection (2G/3G/4G/5G) and VoLTE for better call quality.
Update SIM. If the card does not support 4G, replace it with a USIM for free in a branded store — the number will be saved.
Activate 4G in settings. For most devices, this is a single menu item; instructions are available on the operator’s website.
Global operators are decommissioning 3G to use frequencies more efficiently for 4G/5G: this reduces latency, increases bandwidth and network stability during peak hours. For Ukraine, this is also critical due to the growth of video consumption, cloud services, and remote services for the state and business.
Kyivstar will continue refarming 2100MHz as regions become ready and asks users to update their SIM and settings in advance. Where 4G is not yet available, communication will work via 2G for voice and basic data; however, 4G provides full speeds, so it is recommended not to postpone the transition.
Frequency refarming for 4G is one of the key approaches to improving the quality of mobile Internet without large-scale network reconstruction. In Ukraine, operators are gradually switching off 3G at 2100 MHz: this allows them to redistribute the spectrum, reduce the load on the airwaves, and create a reserve for the launch of 5G in urban agglomerations and on main routes.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how the mobile operator Kyivstar announced the start of the first free testing of Starlink Direct to Cell technology, which provides mobile Internet on a smartphone from a satellite, and announced when all users will have access to it.
