In March 2026, Ukrainians were switching mobile operators en masse while keeping their numbers. A total of 59,177 transitions were recorded during this period, with one network losing a record number of subscribers.
This was reported by RBK-Ukraine, citing data from the NCCIR.
Also read: 3G in Ukraine will be completely turned off: the Ministry of Digital Transformation announced the exact date
Main points:
- Scale of migration: In March, 59,177 transitions between networks with number retention were recorded.
- Anti-leader: The largest outflow was felt by Vodafone, which lost 29,375 customers. “Kyivstar” lost 21,297 subscribers.
- Main beneficiary: The favorite was lifecell – it gained 38,857 new users.
- Net growth: Only two operators ended the month “in the black”: lifecell (+30,470) and “TriMob” (+10).
- Small networks: “Intertelecom” and “TriMob” hardly felt any fluctuations.
Who lost the most subscribers
The largest outflow of users was recorded at Vodafone – the network lost 29,375 subscribers. Significant losses were also reported by “Kyivstar” – it lost 21,297 clients.
Fewer users were lost by:
- lifecell – 8,387 subscribers;
- “Intertelecom” – 87;
- “TriMob” – 31.
Where Ukrainians were switching
The leader in new subscribers was lifecell – it gained 38,857 numbers.
Other operators received:
- “Kyivstar” – 12,257 numbers;
- Vodafone – 7,984;
- “TriMob” – 41;
- “Intertelecom” – 38.
By the end of the month, only two operators managed to increase their subscriber base.
The largest growth was shown by lifecell – it added 30,470 users. A slight increase was also recorded for “TriMob” – it gained 10 new subscribers.
Earlier, RBK-Ukraine reported on how mobile communication works in Ukraine during blackouts. Base stations can maintain connectivity for several hours to more than three days: initially thanks to batteries (4-8 hours), and during prolonged outages – through generators, which significantly increased the resilience of networks compared to 2022.
We also reported that open testing of the 5G network began at the main railway station in Lviv, which provides faster and more stable internet even under heavy load – up to 1.9 Gbps, without the need for additional settings for users. This is the second location in the city where 5G operates. The first was launched in January 2026.
