Mobile operators say that 10-hour battery life requires efforts from the state as well
1 August 2024 13:11
Domestic mobile operators Kyivstar, Vodafone and lifecell have issued a joint statement on the difficulties of ensuring full autonomy of mobile communications and the Internet during power outages. This was reported by Ekonomichna Pravda, which has the text of the statement, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The statement came in response to a recent order from the National Centre for Operational and Technical Management of Telecommunications Networks (NCTC), which obliges operators to ensure full autonomy of communications for 10 hours during power outages.
The operators emphasise that achieving 100% autonomy within 10 hours is an extremely challenging task, even with their best efforts.
Operators emphasise that they continue to work on improving the energy resilience of their networks, but this process requires significant resources and time. A number of factors complicate the implementation of the NDC requirements. The unstable situation in the energy sector and power outage schedules create additional challenges for equipment operation. To ensure 10-hour autonomy, the existing infrastructure needs to be significantly upgraded and actions coordinated with the power industry.
Problems with charging backup equipment also pose a significant challenge. For the batteries to operate smoothly, they need to be constantly charged, which puts an additional strain on the power system. According to operators, about 2.8 GWh of electricity per day is required to ensure 10-hour autonomy of base stations.
In addition, there is a shortage of personnel to maintain the backup equipment. There are also technical constraints, such as the inability to install generators on the roofs of many buildings due to technical or legal reasons. There is a shortage of the necessary batteries and generators in Ukraine, which complicates the modernisation process.
Bureaucratic obstacles, such as complex procedures for expanding leased space to accommodate additional equipment, also slow down the process of increasing grid autonomy. In addition, frequent power outages and network congestion during blackouts lead to a deterioration in the quality of mobile and internet services, making it difficult to meet the required service standards.
The operators emphasise that addressing these issues requires comprehensive efforts not only on their part, but also on the part of government agencies and energy companies. They call for cooperation and understanding of the complexity of the situation, stressing that they are working to improve the autonomy of their networks, but that achieving full 10-hour autonomy in the current environment remains an extremely difficult task.
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