Ukraine’s Kyivstar reports on its website that it expects to have more than two million active VoLTE users on its network by the first quarter of 2023, after it began making the 4G calling service available to pre-paid users in July this year. Kyivstar says that VoLTE was available on around 300,000 post-paid contract subscriptions by the end of 2021, and since it started phasing in pre-paid access nearly 500,000 users have the opportunity to take advantage of the technology.
Kyivstar is activating VoLTE connections on a gradual basis. If an active 4G internet user’s device/SIM and network coverage meet requirements, they must still wait for the operator to send an SMS confirming VoLTE activation. Over 100 smartphone models from manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi support VoLTE on the network.
TeleGeography notes that in December 2020 Kyivstar claimed Ukraine’s first VoLTE launch, initially available across the LTE network for premium contract subscribers with Apple iPhones. VoLTE support for Samsung and Huawei smartphones was activated for post-paid customers in October 2021. TeleGeography adds that over twelve million of Kyivstar’s total 24.4 million active pre-paid/post-paid subscriptions were 4G-based at end-September 2022.