Mobile network operator lifecell, part of the DVL Group, is actively upgrading its energy infrastructure to maintain connectivity even during extended power outages.
As of early June 2025, in line with the National Center for Communication’s directive on network resilience, most lifecell base stations are equipped with backup systems capable of autonomous operation for up to 10 hours. This is due to the installation of high-capacity lithium batteries and generators.
In 14 Ukrainian regions — including Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv — the modernization is fully completed. The designated base stations in these regions can function independently for up to 10 hours.
lifecell’s network spans over 10,000 technical sites nationwide, including in de-occupied and frontline zones. Ensuring uninterrupted operation of these sites during blackouts is a top priority amid the ongoing full-scale war.
Since the onset of widespread power outages, lifecell has procured 48,000 lithium batteries (48V, 100Ah) to power telecom equipment. Of these, 40,000 units have already been installed, including 20,000 during Q1 2025. The company’s total investment in energy infrastructure modernization is nearing 2 billion UAH. Additionally, lifecell has significantly expanded its fleet of diesel and gasoline generators — now 75 times more than in 2022.
Moreover, the operator is exploring renewable energy sources. In 2022, lifecell began piloting solar panels for powering base stations in southern Ukraine and recently tested using an electric vehicle as a power source.