Do not buy Novatel / Inseego for 5G in Ukraine: examining bands and marketing claims

Our recommendation to buyers is: do not buy Novatel / Inseego for 5G in Ukraine based on the brand name, a low price or a “5G” label. US carrier versions may lack the required bands. You could buy a device for 5G and get only LTE on the network you intend to use.

This article examines specific variants using official manufacturer documentation. Its conclusions must not automatically be applied to every device from the brand.

Sources checked: 12 November 2026.

What Ukrainian 5G requires

In its announcement of 5G testing in Odesa, Kyivstar confirms the use of 3500 MHz in NSA mode. Support for n78 is required for the corresponding band.

In its announcement of the 5G pilot in Lviv, the operator also identifies two deployment purposes: 3500 MHz for speed and 700 MHz for wider coverage. Buyers choosing a device for current n78 and future n28 use should therefore require both bands. This does not mean n28 is already available everywhere.

Without the required band, there is no 5G connection on that band. A discount cannot fix this.

What US Inseego specifications show

Sources: M2000 T-Mobile datasheet, M2100 Verizon user guide, MiFi X PRO specifications — Verizon entry.

These are different limitations: the first two versions lack listed n78 support; the third includes n78 but lacks listed n28 support. Calling all three equally incompatible would be inaccurate. Buying them as equally universal solutions would also be a mistake.

“Works with Ukrainian operators” does not establish 5G operation

A router can accept a Ukrainian SIM card and provide internet over LTE. That does not prove a 5G connection.

Similarly:

• “Unlocked” does not mean the required bands have been added.

• 5 GHz Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi 6 describes the local connection to your devices, not mobile network compatibility.

• LTE B28 does not establish 5G NR n28 support.

• “Up to several gigabits” does not guarantee that speed with your operator.

Buyers need a specific capability. Marketing language cannot replace it.

Gigabit 4G: check the configuration, not just the modem category

An LTE category describes equipment capabilities under suitable conditions. Actual speed depends on aggregation, channel bandwidth, MIMO, signal and the network.

If a seller promises aggregation after a firmware change, they should identify the exact combinations tested on the specific variant. If only 2CA has been demonstrated, that confirms the configuration shown—it neither proves gigabit speed nor establishes a brand-wide limitation.

Do not pay for a chipset’s maximum capabilities presented as a guaranteed result from a finished router.

Firmware and matching names do not eliminate the need to check

An n78 menu option is not proof of an actual n78 connection. A promise to “enable every band” requires evidence for the specific device.

Meanwhile, documentation covering the European M2000 version lists n78 and n28. European variant specifications must therefore not be attributed to the US M2000 T-Mobile.

Before paying, request the exact model, SKU, matching documentation and firmware version. Supplement band checks with verification on the intended network: a band list alone does not guarantee operation in every NSA/SA configuration.

Our conclusion

Do not buy the M2000 T-Mobile or M2100 Verizon with the cited official specifications for Ukraine’s n78 5G. Do not choose the M3100 Verizon if your requirement is support for both n78 and n28.

This is a compatibility assessment, not a claim that these devices are unsuitable for every purpose.

Do not buy Novatel / Inseego for 5G in Ukraine—that is our editorial recommendation for buyers seeking to avoid confusion over carrier versions. Choose an exact variant with confirmed support for the required bands and verified operation on a Ukrainian network.

You need working internet. A “5G” label on the casing cannot replace it.