VEON and Kyivstar increase Ukraine investment commitment to USD 1 billion, attend Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin

Core Insights - VEON, through its subsidiary Kyivstar, plans to increase its investment in rebuilding Ukraine's digital infrastructure to USD 1 billion over five years from 2023 to 2027, up from a previous commitment of USD 600 million over three years [2] - The investment will focus on network and digital services, including potential acquisitions, new asset development, social contributions, and partnerships [2][4] - Kyivstar has been recognized as Ukraine's largest foreign investor in 2022 and 2023, with a capital expenditure of UAH 12.3 billion (approximately USD 350 million) over these two years [4] Investment and Infrastructure Development - Since February 24, 2022, Kyivstar has built 1,895 new LTE base stations and upgraded about 13,200 existing base stations to 4G, achieving 95% 4G coverage in territories controlled by Ukraine [5] - The operator aims for near-universal (98%) 4G coverage within the next two years and is expanding its high-speed GPON network to seven new cities in 2024 [5] - Kyivstar has invested UAH 1 billion (approximately USD 27.4 million) in energy resilience, installing over 2,300 generators and 113,000 batteries to maintain network operations during power infrastructure attacks [5] Digital Services and Community Support - Kyivstar invested in Helsi, Ukraine's leading digital healthcare platform, which has 2.5 million monthly active users and serves nearly 1,600 medical institutions [5] - The company supports local businesses through integration with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, and its Real-Time Kinematic technology is utilized in various professional applications [5] - Total customer support and CSR initiatives since February 2022 have amounted to USD 50 million, including significant contributions to Ukraine's demining efforts [5] Company Overview - VEON is a global digital operator providing services to nearly 160 million customers across six countries, with a focus on technology-driven services that promote economic growth [1] - Kyivstar, as the largest telecommunications operator in Ukraine, has maintained network availability above 90% over the past two years, supporting both its customers and the broader population [6]