LifeCell expanded the availability of 5G in roaming - the list includes 47 countries. When in Ukraine? Not soon

lifecell reported the expansion of the list of countries where its subscribers have access to 5G. Currently, this list includes 47 countries.

In which countries does lifecell offer 5G roaming

Since May 2023, lifecell subscribers have access to 5G internet while roaming — initially the service was available in Bulgaria, Austria, Finland, and the Dominican Republic, and now the operator provides this opportunity for lifecell-roamers in 47 countries (if the smartphone supports this standard).

1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Argentina
4. Belgium
5. Bulgaria
6. United Kingdom
7. Hong Kong
8. Greece
9. Denmark
10. Dominican Republic
11. Estonia
12. Israel
13. Iceland
14. Spain
15. Italy
16. Kazakhstan
17. Canada
18. Qatar
19. China
20. Cyprus
21. Kuwait
22. Latvia
23. Lithuania
24. Luxembourg
25. Liechtenstein
26. Malta
27. Netherlands
28. Germany
29. Norway
30. United Arab Emirates
31. Oman
32. Portugal
33. Romania
34. Saudi Arabia
35. Singapore
36. Slovakia
37. Slovenia
38. Taiwan
39. Thailand
40. Turkey
41. Hungary
42. Finland
43. France
44. Croatia
45. Czech Republic
46. Switzerland
47. Sweden

lifecell also shared some statistics on the use of the 5G roaming service:

• Since May 2023, almost 200,000 people have used it.
• The top 5 countries where most lifecell subscribers use 5G are Germany, Romania, Czech Republic, Spain, and Turkey.
• The highest amount of data per 5G subscriber in Germany is around 14 GB, followed by Turkey with nearly 10 GB, and the Netherlands with 9 GB.

Particular attention is given to the list of the most popular smartphones used by lifecell subscribers for 5G — iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 14. Among Android users, the most popular 5G model is the Galaxy A53.

lifecell directly acknowledges that these fairly high mobile internet consumption rates while roaming are influenced, among other things, by the ability to use gigabytes within the promotion "Unlimited GB" within the "home" tariff without additional charges.

lifecell sale, European roaming at home rates and the prospects of 5G in Ukraine

Let's remember a few more important points. As for lifecell, starting in December 2023, the third largest Ukrainian mobile operator in terms of subscribers is at the final stage of sale to NJJ Capital, the French billionaire Xavier Niel — the deal is expected to close by September 2024 (the delay is due to the arrest of a corporate rights share indirectly owned by sanctioned Russian businessmen Fridman and Kosogov), and further merging with "Datagroup" and Volia is quite probable.

In February, the Council supported a bill on a single roaming zone with the EU, and Ukraine moved one step closer to the EU free roaming zone on a permanent basis. Once the changes are finally approved, Ukrainians will be able to make calls and use mobile internet at home rates without changing SIM cards and additional charges while traveling in Europe. Currently, free roaming for Ukrainians in the European Union is in effect thanks to a separate agreement between Ukrainian and European operators.

As for the timeline for the full launch of 5G in Ukraine, it is currently unknown (not even approximate). In short: do not expect the fifth generation in the next few years, despite the announced pilot launch of 5G in Ukraine in 2024 by the head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation in September 2023

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