Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been under enemy fire for more than 2 years. Constant power outages also affect the quality of communication and the Internet, as the base stations of mobile operators that provide coverage also run on electricity. Stabilizing the situation with mobile communications and the Internet is one of the main tasks of the Ministry of Digital Transformation today.
Ukrainians must have access to basic life needs despite the enemy’s actions. Calling an ambulance, writing to family members, or receiving an air raid alert is a necessity for people that should not be affected by a power outage.
Decisions made
To stabilize the situation with mobile communications and the Internet, the Ministry has already made decisions:
- Updated the requirements of the National Center for Operational and Technical Management of Electronic Communication Networks of Ukraine. Now, mobile operators must provide 25% of their networks with generators to ensure that they can operate for 72+ hours during blackouts. The rest of the mobile network must operate for 10 hours on rechargeable batteries. The batteries operate on the principle of a power bank – they power base stations during power outages.
- Compliance checks have been intensified. Operators will report on the situation to the NCC on a quarterly basis, and the NCEC will check compliance.
- We have developed Resolution No. 352, which has already been approved by the regulator. Thus, operators will be able to apply to Oblenergo to modernize their networks that go to the base stations. This will make it possible to charge batteries faster. However, we remember that it still takes time to charge the batteries.
- We have agreed on a list of facilities that must have uninterrupted power supply, and the JMAs will submit it to Oblenergo.
- Reservations are being arranged for employees of repair crews who are liable for military service.
Duty abolition
In addition, the Parliament passed a law abolishing customs duties and VAT on imports of batteries and generators.
At the same time, the Ministry of Digital Transformation is working on a new service in Diia, which will allow Ukrainians to report connection problems in the app even without internet access. When the connection is restored, the information will be automatically pulled up in Diia.
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