Kyivstar Begins Open RAN Lab Trials

Kyivstar will shortly begin testing Open RAN on its home soil. During the lab trials, software from Rakuten Symphony will be put through its paces in a controlled environment. The Ukrainian operator will test solutions from Rakuten’s RAN portfolio as well as its Cloud-Native Platform. The companies said that results and learnings from this phase of testing will also form a key part of Ukraine’s long-term strategy for the deployment of critical digital infrastructure.

The collaboration stems from a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between Kyivstar’s parent company VEON and Rakuten, aimed at speeding up the reconstruction of the country’s war-torn infrastructure.

At the time, VEON noted that Open RAN presented a compelling choice for the company. Kaan Terzioglu, Group CEO of VEON confirmed that view while commenting on the news, saying “We believe in the potential of Open RAN to rebuild Ukraine’s digital infrastructure for the future” 

Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group, added that “Rakuten is proud to support Ukraine in its journey of recovery and resilience, and to play a key role in building infrastructure that supports the country’s long-term digital roadmap.”

Both companies have indicated intentions to expand their Open RAN collaboration once these trials have successfully been completed.

Last year, the Ukrainian Government amended its resolution governing the use of radio frequencies. As a result, 5G trials will be conducted in three cities over the next two years, focusing on compatibility with military equipment. A full 5G rollout, expected by 2030, could present a significant greenfield opportunity for Open RAN.