Men are more frequent users than women (59.3 percent), and most users access the
Internet at the office, Internet cafe ´s, or home. Various efforts have been made to boost
Internet access at public Internet access places (PIAPs). 13 Pilot projects have also been
launched in an effort to improve universal service provision in remote areas. There are
more than 3,000 Internet cafe ´s in Ukraine (or one for every 16,000 people in the country). 14 In 2007, 70 percent of all Internet cafe ´s accessed the Internet through a dial-up
connection, 20 percent through dedicated lines, and 10 percent through cable TV networks and others. 15
There are about 400 ISPs in Ukraine according to the State Committee on Communication and Informatization. 16 As of March 2009, there were around 90 ISPs connected
to the two Internet traffic exchange points. Ukrtelecom has recently taken steps to encourage massive use of broadband services, and the number of ISPs offering broadband
access services has rapidly increased. 17 In March 2005, there were only 10,000 DSL
lines in Ukraine. 18 At that time, DSLAMs were installed in 450 cities in Ukraine, and
work was under way with Cisco to permit a 1,000 percent increase in DSL subscribers
by the second half of 2006. In Ukraine, DSL is used by ISPs as high-speed leased lines.
The most widespread technology used for this purpose is HDSL, reaching 2 Mbps dataexchange speeds in both directions. 19 By the end of 2008, there were approximately
1.5 million broadband subscribers (of whom about 500,000 were Ukrtelecom subscribers). Penetration of broadband access in the country exceeded 8 percent. 20
The government, recognizing the need for attracting foreign investment and stimulating a favorable Internet environment, has also announced plans to provide low-cost
access to the Internet in the major cities using WiMAX technology. 21 Indeed, the wireless broadband sector has experienced an increased level of activity as the number of
Wi-Fi ISPs has been augmented.
Mobile operators plan to launch fixed-broadband services using frequencies previously used by analog mobile services. Although cable operators have a significant presence throughout the country, the lack of investment has prevented them from offering
broadband and digital cable services in most places in Ukraine. A new DTH platform
has been launched, and the Ukrainian broadcasting council has allocated Digital Terrestrial TV licenses, opening the way for new services.
There are a number of companies providing Internet access using satellite technologies in Ukraine (these include Ukrsat, Infocom-SK, Spacegate, Adamant, LuckyNet,
Ukrnet, and Itelsat). With the exception of Infocom-SK, all these companies are private
operators. Ukrchastotnagliad, the Ukrainian frequencies supervisory center, reports
that 86 operators have licenses to provide satellite communications services in
Ukraine. Despite the large number of operators on the market, however, satellite telecommunications is limited because of its high cost compared to the low average
income in the country. The government is nevertheless deploying a digital satellite
television and radio broadcasting system, which will also be used for Internet via satel252
Ukraine
Internet at the office, Internet cafe ´s, or home. Various efforts have been made to boost
Internet access at public Internet access places (PIAPs). 13 Pilot projects have also been
launched in an effort to improve universal service provision in remote areas. There are
more than 3,000 Internet cafe ´s in Ukraine (or one for every 16,000 people in the country). 14 In 2007, 70 percent of all Internet cafe ´s accessed the Internet through a dial-up
connection, 20 percent through dedicated lines, and 10 percent through cable TV networks and others. 15
There are about 400 ISPs in Ukraine according to the State Committee on Communication and Informatization. 16 As of March 2009, there were around 90 ISPs connected
to the two Internet traffic exchange points. Ukrtelecom has recently taken steps to encourage massive use of broadband services, and the number of ISPs offering broadband
access services has rapidly increased. 17 In March 2005, there were only 10,000 DSL
lines in Ukraine. 18 At that time, DSLAMs were installed in 450 cities in Ukraine, and
work was under way with Cisco to permit a 1,000 percent increase in DSL subscribers
by the second half of 2006. In Ukraine, DSL is used by ISPs as high-speed leased lines.
The most widespread technology used for this purpose is HDSL, reaching 2 Mbps dataexchange speeds in both directions. 19 By the end of 2008, there were approximately
1.5 million broadband subscribers (of whom about 500,000 were Ukrtelecom subscribers). Penetration of broadband access in the country exceeded 8 percent. 20
The government, recognizing the need for attracting foreign investment and stimulating a favorable Internet environment, has also announced plans to provide low-cost
access to the Internet in the major cities using WiMAX technology. 21 Indeed, the wireless broadband sector has experienced an increased level of activity as the number of
Wi-Fi ISPs has been augmented.
Mobile operators plan to launch fixed-broadband services using frequencies previously used by analog mobile services. Although cable operators have a significant presence throughout the country, the lack of investment has prevented them from offering
broadband and digital cable services in most places in Ukraine. A new DTH platform
has been launched, and the Ukrainian broadcasting council has allocated Digital Terrestrial TV licenses, opening the way for new services.
There are a number of companies providing Internet access using satellite technologies in Ukraine (these include Ukrsat, Infocom-SK, Spacegate, Adamant, LuckyNet,
Ukrnet, and Itelsat). With the exception of Infocom-SK, all these companies are private
operators. Ukrchastotnagliad, the Ukrainian frequencies supervisory center, reports
that 86 operators have licenses to provide satellite communications services in
Ukraine. Despite the large number of operators on the market, however, satellite telecommunications is limited because of its high cost compared to the low average
income in the country. The government is nevertheless deploying a digital satellite
television and radio broadcasting system, which will also be used for Internet via satel252
Ukraine