Ukraine’s antitrust committee fines Kyivstar around €341,000 over “No. 1 mobile internet speed” slogan

The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) has fined the country’s largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, 17.5 million hryvnias (around €341,000) for using the advertising claim “No. 1 mobile internet speed.” The operator considers the decision unfounded and intends to challenge it in court.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement from the head of the AMCU and a comment from Kyivstar.

According to the regulator, Kyivstar’s actions were classified as a violation of Article 15-1 of Ukraine’s Law “On Protection Against Unfair Competition” — the dissemination of misleading information. The AMCU’s objections concern the marketing slogan specifically: the Committee noted that information about the data source, measurement periods, and average figures obtained was presented in a way that made it difficult to perceive simultaneously with the main advertising claim.

Kyivstar rejected the accusations. The company stated that it respects the AMCU’s role in ensuring fair competition and protecting consumer rights, but does not share the regulator’s conclusions.

“The company does not share the AMCU’s preliminary conclusions regarding the use of the advertising claim ‘No. 1 mobile internet speed’ and considers them unfounded,” — the operator’s press service said in a statement quoted by Interfax-Ukraine.

The company emphasized that the slogan was based on research by the independent international company Ookla (Speedtest), which represents globally accepted practice. According to Kyivstar representatives, all material terms and data sources were properly disclosed and the communication was fully compliant with applicable law. The operator intends to challenge the AMCU’s decision in court.

Previously, the AMCU approved Kyivstar’s acquisition of cloud provider GigaCloud, which serves the government platforms Diia and Prozorro as well as a number of major business clients. The regulator required, however, that telecom services not be imposed on the provider’s clients.

In addition to its core telecommunications business, the Kyivstar group owns the medical service Helsi, the Kyivstar TV platform, the taxi service Uklon, and the marketplace Tabletki.ua.