From 2 to 6 hours: In Kyivstar, Vodafone and lifecell told about readiness to work without electricity.

Ukrainian mobile operators are actively preparing for possible power outages in the autumn-winter period.

RBC-Ukraine reports on the measures taken by Kyivstar, Vodafone and lifecell to ensure uninterrupted communication in blackout conditions.

"Kyivstar" invested over 1.4 billion UAH in increasing the energy independence of its network. As of September 2024, 60% of the operator's network has four-hour backup power, and 40% - from 2 to 4 hours. The company is working to provide 6-hour backup for all key facilities. By the end of the year, "Kyivstar" plans to provide 23-25% of the network with the ability to operate from generators.

Vodafone reports that it has installed more than 51 thousand battery packs, which provide 4-6 hours of autonomous operation of base stations. The company also uses stationary and mobile generators as well as alternative energy sources, including three solar power plants. Vodafone's total investments in blackout preparation will amount to about 900 million UAH.

Lifecell has equipped more than half of its base stations with lithium batteries, providing 4 hours of operation on a single charge. Additionally, the operator has connected more than 1700 base stations to generators for long-term support of equipment operation. By 2025, lifecell plans to equip about 70% of technological sites with lithium batteries.

All operators emphasize that during power outages, the quality of communication may be lower than under normal conditions. They also note that full charging of batteries requires time - from 4 to 8 hours, depending on the type of equipment.

The National Center for Operational and Technological Management of Telecommunications Networks (NCU) has mandated that by February 1, 2025, operators must ensure at least 10 hours of network operation in the absence of electricity. Compliance with these requirements will be monitored by the National Commission for State Regulation of Electronic Communications (NCEC). Failure to comply with the requirements will incur fines of up to 0.3% of the operator's annual revenue.