Volia, now part of the DVL group (Datagroup-Volia-lifecell), has been building a large-scale energy-resistant gigabit GPON network since May 2024. By the end of the year, the planned number of homes connected using this technology will double.
The company’s press service told Holos Sokalshchyny.
The construction of the GPON network is Volia’s largest project since 2021. To launch it, a pilot project was previously successfully conducted in one of the districts of Kyiv. It made it possible to make the necessary calculations and plan further steps. According to them, a total of UAH 1.5 billion will be invested in the project over three years.
The first wave of construction involves upgrading the existing DOCSIS network, so this year the work is already underway in the cities with the highest concentration of Volia subscribers using this technology – Lviv, Vinnytsia and Kyiv. The second wave is the modernisation of FTTB technology. However, the company is also carrying out construction for Kharkiv, which has such a network, this year, as the city is suffering from Russian shelling and is in dire need of internet access in case of power outages.
“Energy resilience of networks is a critical challenge in wartime, and we are systematically working on it,” says Mykhailo Shelemba, CEO of DVL Group, which includes Volia, “We connect additional power to equipment and reserve key nodes. At the same time, we are actively building a modern GPON network that is capable of providing Ukrainians with access to the Internet even in blackouts, in addition to high speed. This is one of our top priorities for the next three years.”
The networks are being upgraded to meet the needs for power backup in the event of power outages and to provide the necessary capacity to connect Internet access at speeds of up to 1 Gbps for a large number of subscribers. Volia uses state-of-the-art equipment from Nokia, including for connecting end users. This ensures better quality and reliability in the provision of services.
Existing users can switch to Volia’s upgraded network at no extra cost. In order to use the company’s services in the absence of electricity, subscribers need to take care of the backup power supply for the router and terminal equipment installed in their apartment. At the same time, the router’s characteristics should support the ability to receive Internet at speeds up to 1 Gbps. You can choose and purchase a suitable model with the help of Volia specialists.
We would like to remind you that the main advantages of GPON Internet access include greater connection reliability and a stable signal, high speed (up to 1 Gbps) optical line that is installed directly to the apartment, and energy independence – the Internet can work even in the absence of electricity (provided that the user has a backup power supply for his equipment).
About DVL
DVL Group is a platform that unites the Datagroup, Volia and lifecell electronic communications brands and related companies. In September 2024, NJJ Holding, led by French investor Xavier Niel, completed the acquisition of these companies, creating a new dynamic player in the Ukrainian telecoms market. The synergy of the expertise, experience and infrastructure of the three telecoms operators provides a full range of communication services: mobile, fixed-line Internet access (including satellite) and television. The presence of a network provider providing tower rental services and a company specialising in contact centre outsourcing within the DVL Group contributes to high quality of service and efficient investments in network development. The combined Datagroup-Volia-lifecell group opens up new opportunities for private customers and businesses through an expanded portfolio of services and converged services based, in particular, on IoT, Big Data, artificial intelligence (AI), digital and OTT TV, cloud solutions, and data centre capabilities in Ukraine and abroad. The group’s companies employ more than 5,000 professionals who serve about 14 million customers in the B2C, B2B and B2G segments.