You're reading: Vodafone Ukraine successfully tests 4G in Kyiv metro

Vodafone Ukraine, a mobile operator, has successfully tested 4G network in Kyiv Metropolitan, the company’s press service has said.

“Within a few days, 4G will appear, starting from Akademmistechko station and in the tunnel towards Zhytomyrska station, then in several stages in the other stations. In total, according to the plans, in the first half of the year the network will appear at nine stations and in runs between them. Kyiv metro will be completely covered with 4G Internet by the end of 2020,” Vodafone Ukraine said.

According to the company, the work in the subway was performed by software, by upgrading current software on all network sections in the LTE-1800 standard.

“During last week, in 24/7 mode, the team of Vodafone Ukraine experts together with the contractor worked on the implementation of the technical solution and successfully tested 4G network in Kyiv metro. The tests that we performed on the night of February 24 were successful, all services are working and the network is ready to receive Internet traffic from our subscribers,” Andriy Bolshakov, the Deputy Director General of Vodafone Ukraine, said.

He also stressed that the company, along with other mobile operators, is waiting for the adoption by the city authorities of tariffs for access to the infrastructure of Kyiv, as well as, in particular, to the infrastructure of Kyiv Metropolitan Communal Enterprise, which is scheduled for March 12.

“In the case of a positive decision, we can start full implementation of the project immediately after signing the contract. In the opposite case, the terms of the project may change,” he said.

As reported, in early February, members of parliament of Kyiv City Council postponed consideration of the draft decision on setting fees for access to the city’s public utilities infrastructure, refusing to vote for the project, and emphasizing that according to the regulations, it is necessary to spend from a month to two for consideration by the regulatory commission.

According to the plan, the launch of 4G communications at the first stations and in the adjacent tunnels of the Kyiv metro should take place at the end of the first quarter of 2020 with the subsequent distribution to all stations and tunnels by the end of 2020.

Earlier, adviser to the Kyiv Mayor Maksym Bakhmatov said that it is planned to connect the fourth generation metro stations Akademmistechko, Zhytomyrska, Sviatoshyn, Nyvky, Heroyiv Dnipra, Minska, Obolon, Syrets, Dorohozhychi and Lukianivska to the network.

In July 2019, Big Three mobile operators (Kyivstar, Vodafone Ukraine and Lifecell) recognized the Ukrainian subsidiary of the Chinese technology company Huawei as the winner of the tender on finding a contractor for the construction of 4G network in Kyiv metro.

From February 1, 2018, Kyiv City State Administration terminated the deal with Mosquito Mobile, which won the tender for the construction of Kyiv Metro Wi-Fi network in 2014.