Mobile Phones in Ukraine

[Streetwise]

Greetings all, it's been a while!

Anyone have any idea what you would expect to pay for a mobile phone in Ukraine, approximately? I assume they use the "pay-as-you-go" top-up SIM card system; any idea what the average charge would be for talk-time, per hour?

All info appreciated, thanks.

[AllenB]

... in response to Mobile Phones in Ukraine, posted by Streetwise on Sep 23, 2004

If you own a GSM phone already all you have to do is purchase a new SIM card from either Kyivstar or UMC for 50 Grivna which includes 25 grivna credit (doesn't go far if you call back to the states).  Remember that 50 grivna is less than $10 U.S.

The cost to calls within UKR depends on if you are calling a cell phone with the same service or not or if you are calling a land line.  Obviously international is more expensive.

The advantage of buying their SIM is that you avoid your U.S. providers International Roaming charges which is where they really gouge you.  The actual cost per minute of a call back to the U.S. is less with Kyivstar than UMC and you don't pay T-Mobile or whoever their exhorbatant roaming charges.

If you have more questions just email me.  I'll be happy to help.

[TimInUkraine]

... in response to Mobile Phones in Ukraine, posted by Streetwise on Sep 23, 2004

There are two major mobile companies in Ukraine--Kyivstar and UMC--and both operate on the system you talk about. You can buy the cards to add money to your account(from 10 Hyriven to 300 Hyriven)at every corner shop. They are starting to get a bit more competitive now, but basically if you call a mobile on the same service, you get one price, and if you call a mobile on another service or a land line the cost is dramatically different (more, of course). My wife and I are "New Ukrainians" in the sense that we each have two mobiles (one to call and receive calls on Kyivstar; the other for UMC calls). We recently signed up for a contract with UMC. It cost 549 Hyrivnia. This includes the phone (a pretty decent Siemens), activation, and 18 months of the 25H monthly minimum. We each get to choose 5 numbers. Calls to these numbers run 20 kopeks a minute (which would be 12H and hour). Calls to UMC numbers other than the "special" 5 are about 40 kopeks a minute, and calls to non-UMC numbers are about 80 kopeks a minute. Text messages are 10 kopeks (which is what many people do with their mobiles here).

There is a new company called Jeans that has a lot of specials, but the specials are only for two months and no details are provided about future rates. I would be suspicious of an American company doing this, so multiply that suspicion by at least 10 because it is a Ukrainian company. But who knows, maybe I'll be toting 3 phones around with me in the near future. Hope this helps.

Tim

[CS767]

... in response to Re: Mobile Phones in Ukraine, posted by TimInUkraine on Sep 23, 2004

will this work?

[tim360z]

... in response to Re: Mobile Phones in Ukraine, posted by TimInUkraine on Sep 23, 2004

How do you find life there?  Just simple aspects would be nice.  Impressions?  Cultures?  How long have you lived in Ukraine?  Could you provide some enlightment on this former Iron Curtain country?  I have found your few posts to be solid info, Cheers, Tim

[TimInUkraine]

... in response to How?, posted by tim360z on Sep 24, 2004

I've been coming to Ukraine for many years now. In the US, I was a professor, so I had 3 months off in the summer, virtually all of which I spent here. I've been living here now since June of 2003.

I plan on becoming a regular contributor. I don't consider myself an expert, but I see a lot, and most of my graduate school training was geared towards making sense of what I see.

Some days I love living here; some days it's all I can do not to pack my suitcases and move my family back to the US. Most days, however, it's, as the Ukrainians say about almost everything, "normalna" (OK).

[tim360z]

... in response to Re: How?, posted by TimInUkraine on Sep 25, 2004

It will be interesting to read you perspectives.

[Streetwise]

... in response to Re: Mobile Phones in Ukraine, posted by TimInUkraine on Sep 23, 2004

Many thanks for the useful info.

[Cold Warrior]

... in response to Re: Mobile Phones in Ukraine, posted by TimInUkraine on Sep 23, 2004

Do you know if UKR or Russian telcoms would block a call back from the the US? since it is cheaper to call from the US, guys here could set up a call back system for their ladies in FSU. I'm looking to set up one from my girlfriend in Minsk so she can call me whenever.