Ukraine’s mobile operators have purchased 13,000 generators for backup power to base stations. The equipment is being placed near key network facilities, and the Ministry of Digital Affairs, together with local authorities and operators, is developing a mechanism for turning them on during power outages.
Ukraine’s mobile operators have purchased 13,000 generators for backup power to base stations. The equipment is being placed near key network facilities, and the Ministry of Digital Affairs, together with local authorities and operators, is developing a mechanism for turning them on during power outages.
This was stated by the Minister of Digital Transformation Oksana Ferchuk during the TECHNOVATION event in Kyiv. According to her, mobile communications depend on stable power supply, so preparing for long blackouts remains one of the priorities of the department.
"If you imagine that there is no electricity for a day, two, three, a week, then the mobile network does not work without electricity," Ferchuk explained.
According to the minister, the Ministry of Digital Affairs, local governments, and mobile operators are currently working to organize the operation of generators during blackouts. The mere presence of equipment near the base station does not guarantee uninterrupted communication. It is necessary that the generators start up on time, as well as that their maintenance and fuel supply be organized.
Ferchuk gave an example from a border region where, after the internet went out, it turned out that generators had not been turned on. According to her, the reason was complaints from local residents about the noise from the equipment.
However, the number of generators purchased does not equal the number of base stations that will operate on backup power at the same time. To assess the readiness of the network, it is important to know how many stations are already equipped with generators, how many of them actually work during outages, and how long they can maintain communication.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs also calls on Ukrainians to pay attention to xPON technology for home Internet. It allows you to maintain connectivity during power outages if the provider’s network equipment and devices at home are provided with backup power. The technology does not guarantee Internet access under all conditions, but it can help you stay online longer than traditional solutions that depend on powering intermediate equipment along the route.
The overall goal of the Ministry of Digital Affairs' work with operators is to provide Ukrainians with access to communications even during long power outages.
