Mobile Number Portability Drives Market Reshuffle
More than 80,000 mobile subscribers in Ukraine changed their service provider in February 2026 by using Mobile Number Portability (MNP). Data from the National Commission for State Regulation of Electronic Communications shows that the operator Kyivstar suffered the largest net loss of customers, while lifecell attracted the highest number of new users. This level of churn highlights the competitive dynamics in Ukraine's telecom sector.
According to the regulator's figures, the net subscriber losses were as follows:
- Kyivstar: 47,024
- Vodafone Ukraine: 35,047
- lifecell: 4,685
- Trimob: 95
- Intertelecom: 78
Conversely, the net gains for the operators were significant:
- lifecell: 72,563
- Kyivstar: 7,400
- Vodafone Ukraine: 6,901
- Trimob: 22
- Intertelecom: 43
Price Hikes and Competitive Concerns
In related news, Ukraine's three major mobile operators—Kyivstar, Vodafone, and lifecell—have all announced price increases for their services. The companies cite several key reasons for the rising costs:
- Increased electricity prices
- Higher fuel costs for backup generators
- The need to invest in network resilience and autonomy due to the ongoing war
Separately, lifecell has raised concerns about a potential merger of the tower infrastructure used by Kyivstar and Vodafone, warning that such a move could negatively impact market competition.
These developments point to significant subscriber movement between mobile operators in Ukraine, indicating heightened market competition.
The service price hikes, driven by external economic pressures, are likely to influence customer choices going forward. Operators that can offer better terms and services may gain an advantage in this volatile market, especially within the context of wartime impacts on infrastructure. The data analysis confirms that consumers are actively seeking more favorable offers, which could lead to further shifts in the distribution of the subscriber base among providers.