Since February 2022, Kyivstar has invested almost UAH 1 billion (about USD 30 mln) in energy independence, including almost UAH 700 million in energy sources for mobile base stations and UAH 300 million in the Home Internet network.
For mobile communication
In 2023, Kyivstar installed 80 thousand new batteries at its base stations, which will provide up to 6 hours of operation without using power. The company continues to work to ensure the energy independence of the network. By the end of 2023, the total number of such batteries will reach 110 thousand.
In addition, the company has tripled the number of stationary and mobile diesel generators to ensure the operation of all critical facilities. At the beginning of the full-scale war, the company had 700 such generators, and now it has 2,200.
For Home Internet
Kyivstar also took care of its subscribers who use Home Internet. Thus, the company is installing 50 thousand uninterruptible power supplies on the fixed-line Internet network to ensure the functioning of at least 70% of the fixed-line Internet network during potential blackouts. Kyivstar has already started testing GPON technology, which is more energy-independent, in a number of Ukrainian cities. By the end of 2023, the telecom operator plans to launch it for commercial use.
Problems with the regulator
The regulator’s website has published information on the results of inspections of telecom operators’ networks’ readiness for blackouts. These inspections took place in August 2023. It is worth noting that the regulator’s comments to Kyivstar did not concern backup power, but rather radio signal strength at certain locations in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa regions. As of today, the difficulties with signal reception in the above-mentioned regions have been resolved.
The base stations that provide communication at the locations of critical facilities designated by the National Security and Defense Council are equipped to provide autonomous and continuous communication to subscribers for 3 days: there are diesel generators and prepared fuel and lubricants for them.
