Ukraine's largest telecommunications operator, Kyivstar, is considering developing its backbone fiber-optic network as a separate business line in a move aimed at unlocking its commercial value through the separation of its backbone infrastructure, data transmission network, and service network.
"We have quite ambitious strategic plans, but we will act in line with the current environment," Kyivstar CEO and President Oleksandr Komarov said during the presentation of the group's second-quarter 2026 financial results.
According to Komarov, the company is also exploring ways to optimize investment in new infrastructure, taking into account competition among the country's major telecom operators.
He noted that Kyivstar is not currently making significant investments in expanding its fiber-optic network, as it already owns one of Ukraine's largest backbone networks, spanning more than 50,000 kilometers of fiber and covering the country's core transmission infrastructure.
Instead, the company is focusing on preparing its network for the rollout of 5G services, with fiber connections to base stations identified as one of the key requirements.
"We have already reached about 50% nationwide, while in some cities the figure is as high as 70%," Komarov said.
Kyivstar's EBITDA rose 21.1% year-on-year to UAH 8.3 billion in the second quarter of 2026, while revenue increased 27% to UAH 14.9 billion.
For the first half of 2026, the company's net profit grew 36.1% compared with the same period of 2025, reaching UAH 7.1 billion, or $162 million, up 28.8% in U.S. dollar terms.
