For the first time in history, the Ukrainian company Kyivstar has entered the American NASDAQ stock exchange. Now the name of Ukraine’s capital resonates in the world’s financial center, with shares trading under the ticker KYIV, says Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.

How the state changed the rules of the game

Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov emphasizes that this success became possible thanks to reforms in the telecom sector. In recent years:

• laws were adopted to speed up the allocation of land plots for networks;
• permits for mobile towers are now issued in 25 days instead of 2 years.
• base stations are kept running even during power outages.
• conditions were created for the launch of 5G and the EU-wide “roam like at home”,
• new frequency licenses were issued, connecting millions of Ukrainians to the internet.
• 4G coverage was expanded to more than 9,000 settlements.

Nasdaq and Kyivstar: a breakthrough for Ukrainian business

Now a Ukrainian company stands alongside giants — Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon. It sends a strong signal to global investors: even during war, Ukraine can carry out breakthrough business deals.

Investment boom in telecom

Kyivstar’s entry to Nasdaq is not the only milestone.

• Lifecell has attracted the French company NJJ Holding.
• Vodafone, together with Nokia and Finnvera, is investing tens of millions into networks and testing 5G.
• Kyivstar, in partnership with Starlink and SpaceX, is launching Direct-to-Cell, an advanced satellite communication technology.

Ukrainian telecom has proven that despite war, infrastructure losses, and constant shelling, it can develop and integrate into the global economy.