Mobile operators will only be able to provide communication for 4 hours without power. This forecast was made by Stanislav Prybytko, the head of the mobile Internet development department at the Ministry of Digital Transformation ” Stanislav Prybytko, head of the mobile internet development department at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, told Suspilne TV channel, reports Komersant ukrainskyi
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“There is indeed a technical question about how to implement this, because there are many obstacles to this, both technical and legal. Mobile operators have said for sure that no company will be 100% ready,” Prybytko said.
He added that at the first stage, the operators are looking for global manufacturers that could quickly provide them with the necessary batteries and generators and deliver them to Ukraine quickly, taking into account the current state of logistics.
The second stage, according to Prybytko, will be the installation of this equipment at base stations across the country.
Are Ukrainian mobile operators ready for blackouts?
In Ukraine, mobile operators, including Kyivstar, lifecell and Vodafone, are preparing for possible power outages and have developed plans to ensure continuity of communication in such situations.
“Kyivstar has about 15,000 key sites with base stations. Currently, 60% of the sites can operate without power for more than 4 hours, but the company aims to increase this time to 4 hours. Batteries and generators are used to keep the equipment running in the event of a power outage, about 30% of which belong to rivals Vodafone and lifecell. “Kyivstar plans to provide 25% of its network with generators that can operate for up to three days.
Lifecell also has more than 10,000 key stations, most of which are equipped with new lithium batteries that can keep base stations running for about 4 hours. More than 1,700 base stations are also connected to generators, which allows the equipment to extend its operating time after the batteries are depleted. However, in such conditions, we cannot guarantee uninterrupted and fast mobile internet.
Vodafone in Ukraine has tens of thousands of base stations, most of which are equipped with new rechargeable batteries that can operate without power for 4-6 hours. Some stations are also connected to diesel generators. However, the possibility of continuous and fast communication during a power outage is not guaranteed.
Despite the preparations made by mobile operators, they face a number of challenges. One of them is the need for significant investments to equip all base stations. In addition, it takes time to find and install the necessary power equipment, especially abroad. Another problem is that generators cannot be installed on rooftops, which creates difficulties for urban stations. The processing time for applications to increase the power supply to stations can also be lengthy. In addition, it is necessary to increase the number of staff to maintain the equipment and monitor its serviceability.