lifecell Emerges as Top Choice in Ukraine's Mobile Market with Nearly 60,000 Customer Switches in January 2026

Analysis of Customer Transfers Between Mobile Operators in Ukraine

According to ХВИЛЯ: In January 2026, nearly 60,000 Ukrainian mobile subscribers switched service providers while keeping their phone numbers, a process known as Mobile Number Portability (MNP). According to data from the National Commission for State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radiofrequency Spectrum, and Postal Services (NCEC), lifecell gained the most new customers, while Kyivstar experienced the largest net loss of subscribers. This market churn reflects the competitive nature of Ukraine's telecommunications sector.

Kyivstar's network saw 31,102 users depart, and Vodafone lost 22,538 subscribers. Meanwhile, lifecell itself lost 6,121 customers. The operator Intertelecom lost 48 numbers, and TriMob lost 68. The most popular destination for switchers was lifecell, which gained 45,135 new numbers. Vodafone attracted 8,066 new subscribers, and Kyivstar gained 6,653. TriMob's base grew by 11 users, and Intertelecom's by 12.

Market Trends and Impact

lifecell's net gain from number portability amounted to 39,014 new connections. Commission representatives noted:

“Last year, lifecell was the only operator that managed to increase its subscriber count using the MNP function.”

This data highlights subscriber activity and their preferences within the mobile communications market.

The increase in customer transfers between operators points to heightened competition in the industry, which can incentivize providers to improve service quality and offer more favorable tariffs. Monitoring these shifts in subscriber bases also reveals evolving consumer trends, which are likely to influence the future marketing and development strategies of the operators.