Communication in war conditions: how mobile network will work without electricity
The enemy destroyed about 30% of power stations in Ukraine, which resulted in certain problems with electricity supply. Rolling blackouts began throughout the country.
If it is quite possible to stay without electricity for several hours, it is not so easy to stay without mobile communication for a long time.
The fact is that mobile towers also depend on electricity, so during a blackout, they stop working.
The ICTV learned how mobile communication will work during prolonged power outages and in what cases the communication may disappear altogether.
Will the connection disappear in case of de-energization of mobile towers
Although mobile towers are powered by electricity and are completely dependent on power supply, the mobile network of Ukraine is not afraid of blackouts.
As noted in the telecommunications company Vodafone, all base stations are equipped with backup power supplies. These are batteries that automatically turn on when the centralized power supply stops.
Such batteries can provide work for an average of 4-5 hours.
– The next step to continue the network operation is generators. Vodafone has significantly increased their number on the eve and in the first months of the full-scale invasion, – Vodafone said.
The company adds that not every base station is equipped with generators. They are installed only at important communication hubs and key base stations that can maintain the highest percentage of coverage.
– Depending on the parameters of the facilities that are powered by the generator, one filling of the generator provides from 8 hours to two days of autonomous operation, – Vodafone said.
Further, everything will depend on the ability to make regular emergency visits to replenish the fuel supply.
That is, if we are talking about predictable power outages, or electricity will disappear for a short period of time, the mobile network will automatically switch to backup sources and continue to work.
– In the case of prolonged outages, our emergency specialists regularly replenish the fuel supply to ensure continuous operation of the mobile network where physically possible,” Vodafone added.
In fact, Ukrainians will not even feel how the mobile network will start working from backup power, the quality of mobile communication will not be affected. However, the blackout may significantly reduce the speed of mobile Internet.
The fact is that the power outage makes it impossible to use Wi-Fi routers in Ukrainian homes, so all users are forced to switch to mobile Internet.
As a result, the network is overloaded and the Internet speed is significantly reduced.
Another telecommunications company of Ukraine Kyivstar also noted that during the power outage the communication will work.
– However, the situation will depend on the scale of outages and their duration. The operation of mobile communication and Internet equipment depends on stable power supply in the power grids – the Kyivstar said.
In case of emergencies, Kyivstar base stations and mobile communication switches also have autonomous batteries.
Depending on the load on the network, they can work autonomously from the centralized electricity supply for several hours.
– All important equipment, without which the network cannot operate, such as switches and key base stations, is equipped with stationary diesel generators. To support the operation of other equipment in cases of large-scale and prolonged power outages, the company uses mobile diesel generators, – Kyivstar says.
At the same time, priority is given to voice communication.
The company added that during prolonged power outages, subscribers in different areas may experience temporary difficulties, as it is technically impossible to simultaneously deliver diesel generators to a large number of base stations.
– In particular, Kyivstar has more than 40 thousand base stations in Ukraine. However, the company’s employees and contractors are trying to do it as quickly as possible, – the company added.
So, even during long and large-scale power outages, Ukrainians will have communication. Of course, there may be difficulties, but everyone will be able to call their relatives.
Companies have alternative power sources, so Ukraine will not be left without mobile communication.
