Ukraine’s largest telecom operator, Kyivstar, is moving fast on 5G roaming. Since officially switching on the service for its subscribers on July 21, 2025, the operator has nearly doubled the number of supported destinations in just one month — from 15 to 32 countries — and the list is still growing.

Today, Kyivstar customers can access fifth-generation mobile internet abroad through partnerships with more than 40 operators worldwide. That includes key European travel spots like Montenegro, Croatia, France, and Italy, but also further-afield destinations such as Qatar and Canada.

The best part? No hidden extras. Subscribers simply need a 5G-ready smartphone, an active 4G USIM or eSIM, and 5G enabled in their settings. The service runs on standard roaming terms, with no additional fees.

Roaming Like at Home – Kyivstar’s EU Integration

Kyivstar’s roadmap isn’t just about raw availability. As part of Ukraine’s gradual integration into the EU single roaming zone, the operator is updating its long-standing “Roaming Like at Home” service to mirror European standards.

The model is simple: customers get unlimited incoming calls, shared tariff minutes for calls to Ukraine, and extra mobile data volumes — all under their existing paid plan. In some tariffs, roaming gigabytes are pulled directly from the user’s main data allowance, creating a seamless experience across borders.

At present, almost 3 million Kyivstar subscribers have tapped into this service, available in 28 countries and bundled by default into over 100 prepaid, contract, and business plans. Changes can be managed instantly via the My Kyivstar app or USSD codes.

A First for Ukraine – But How Does Kyivstar Compare Globally?

Kyivstar isn’t just ticking boxes; it’s positioning itself alongside European peers who already see 5G roaming as a competitive edge. For example:

• Vodafone offers 5G roaming across much of Europe and selected global markets, with strong integration into its EU-wide footprint.
• Deutsche Telekom and Orange have scaled their 5G roaming coverage aggressively, often extending access to non-European destinations.
• In Asia, operators like Singtel and NTT Docomo have taken similar approaches, leveraging 5G roaming as a retention play for business and frequent travelers.

Kyivstar’s move is particularly notable given Ukraine’s current context — the operator is essentially fast-tracking EU-style roaming rules ahead of the 2026 deadline, bringing subscribers closer to the benefits of a unified digital Europe.

Sources such as GSMA Intelligence and ETNO (European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association) have repeatedly highlighted 5G roaming as one of the strongest value-adds for customer satisfaction in the post-COVID travel rebound. Kyivstar’s latest push shows Ukraine’s telecom market is not lagging — it’s keeping pace with global benchmarks.