In 2024, Ukrtelecom continues to develop its optical infrastructure, restore the network after constant hostile attacks by the aggressor, and provide access to Internet services at 90% of the number of settlements covered by the operator’s network before the full-scale Russian invasion.
Operational efficiency
- Ukrtelecom continues to demonstrate a high level of operational efficiency. In the first nine months of 2024, the company generated total revenues of about UAH 3.6 billion.
- For the three quarters of 2024, the company’s EBITDA amounted to more than UAH 850 million, and the EBITDA margin was 24%.
- Capital investments amounted to UAH 725 million.
- The company fulfills its obligations to the state in a timely manner and in full, paying about UAH 1 billion in taxes to the budgets of all levels in the first nine months of 2024. During the full-scale war, Ukrtelecom paid UAH 3.8 billion.
Optical infrastructure development and new subscribers
The operator is investing in the development of the FTTH/P network based on GPON technology, as this architecture and technology is one of the company’s strategic directions to ensure sustainable and high-quality telecommunications services. Ukrtelecom continues to replace the copper network and build an optical network even in times of full-scale aggression. In particular, this year we have already laid about 5,500 km of optical fibre across Ukraine, including in Sumy and Chernihiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Kherson regions. In total, Ukrtelecom’s optical network reaches about 90,000 km and covers 2.7 million Homepasses.
The development of the optical infrastructure contributes to the growth of broadband subscribers. During the full-scale war, the percentage of optical users in the total Internet subscriber base has increased significantly. While at the beginning of 2022, optical subscribers accounted for 34% of the total Internet user base, this figure is now 68%.
The total number of optical Internet users increased to 360 thousand at the end of Q3 this year. Ukrtelecom’s optics are available in 1306 medical and 1763 educational institutions.
The growth of the optical subscriber base has resulted in an increase in total revenues from providing optical Internet services to all categories of subscribers. For the first 9 months of this year, the revenue from the provision of optical Internet services increased by 17.5% year-on-year.
Preparing for winter and possible power outages
Ukrtelecom Sistema is carrying out a range of activities to provide subscribers with services even during power outages. The company is updating its fleet of batteries and generators. In 2023-2024, it will invest more than UAH 60 million in upgrading power equipment, including purchasing batteries and diesel generators. The company also has the necessary fuel reserves. During the peak moments of blackouts, for example, in July 2024, up to 13,500 liters of diesel fuel are consumed per day, which is approximately UAH 600-650 thousand daily.
Commercial lease
In the first three quarters of 2024, commercial rental income from real estate freed up by the network modernization increased by 35% year-on-year to over UAH 325 million.
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