How Ukrainians Keep Working with Electricity Outages
How we stay online 24/7 in Ukraine without electricity
I’m a software engineer from Ukraine, with obligations to customers to deliver software despite russian terror on our electricity infrastructure. And as you can see from the schedule, I can be without electricity for 4-7 hours. So here is what I did to work and be online 24/7.
How do we keep internet access?
Mostly everywhere in the big cities, internet providers place their hardware on the roofs of buildings and spread ethernet cables between apartments. This is the simplest way to provide internet access to many flats in huge buildings. But without electricity, this hardware will stop working, and the connection will be interrupted.
Moreover, cellular base stations without electricity go to power-saving mode and stop dealing with 3G/4G/5G traffic to save power for calls. How is it possible to be online during this period?
There are several options.
The first is a basic solution — find a working cellular base station.
Cellular networks rely on backup generators and batteries when power is lost to keep the network running. The battery provides power while the generator refills it as needed. The battery will last for up to 8 hours before recharging.
So you need to find a base station with a working battery and generator filled with gasoline. You are lucky if such a radio tower stands near your home.
If you are not so lucky, you need to buy a 4g router, probably with an external antenna. It will allow you to catch a signal from the tower in 10–30 kilometers (≈6–18 miles) it depending you are in a city or a country house.
Fortunately, I have a network tower with a generator, but anyway, I bought a 4G router because it can keep a better signal than a mobile phone and has its own battery that doesn’t discharge my iPhone.
The second option is more advanced — ask the local internet provider for the network upgrade.
During an electricity outage, local internet providers must rely on backup systems to ensure that their networks remain operational. One standard solution is GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) technology, which allows for high-speed internet delivery over fiber optic cables. GPON systems typically have a built-in battery backup on the provider side, which allows them to continue functioning with generators during an outage.
Also, GPON requires a terminal on the client side, so people should find a way to power it. GPON is a modern technology used in private houses and newly built buildings.
But what about older or smaller apartment buildings?
Another essential component for local internet providers during an outage is using uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems for network switches. These systems, which are often installed on the roofs of buildings, provide a backup power source for network switches in case of an outage. This ensures that the switches can continue functioning, allowing internet service to be maintained for customers.
So people living in old buildings started to buy batteries for their provider’s UPS for their own costs. And I am not an exclusion. I bought a battery for my building.
Also, I bought a special small UPS for alarm systems for my Wi-Fi router. They both require a 12v 1.5a power supply.
With this UPS, I can be with gigabit internet during electricity outages without disconnections during my meetings.
Overall, our local internet providers are building a range of backup systems to ensure that their networks remain operational during an electricity outage. By using GPON technology and UPS systems for network switches, they can help to minimize disruptions and keep customers online.
And the third solution is the most expensive — Starlinks
Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX, a private aerospace company founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk. The service utilizes a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network to provide high-speed internet connectivity to users worldwide, including in remote or underserved areas where traditional broadband services may be unavailable or unreliable.
One of the main benefits of using Starlink is that it can provide reliable and fast internet connectivity in areas where other options may be limited or unavailable. This can be especially important during the war in Ukraine. For us Ukrainians, Starling is a game-changer on the battlefield because our soldiers and citizens can access communication, information gathering, and essential services.
However, Starlink terminals have been reported to have difficulty working in apartment buildings due to the signal being blocked by the buildings themselves. This can limit the service’s availability in urban areas where many people live in apartments.
Despite this, Ukrainians, even in huge cities, are using it.
But the terminal requires 20–80 watts of power to operate, depending on the specific model and the conditions under which it is being used.
The length of time that the terminal can operate using a charging station will depend on the power bank's capacity and the terminal's power requirements. For example, a Bluetti AC200 power station with a capacity of 1200 watt-hours could power the Starlink terminal for several hours, while a smaller power bank with a lower capacity may only be able to provide a few hours of operation.
How do we charge laptops and phones?
Keeping electronic devices charged during extended electricity blackouts can be challenging, especially if the power outage is due to a natural disaster or conflict. One solution that many people use in this situation is to rely on portable power banks, such as those from brands like Baseus, Anker, Promate, or Xiaomi, to charge their laptops, phones, and other devices. These power banks typically have a capacity of 10,000–30,000 mAh and can be charged in advance so that they are ready to use when needed.
Another option for charging devices during an electricity blackout is to use a charging station, such as the EcoFlow, Bluetti, or Anker brands. These charging stations are portable power banks capable of providing enough power to charge laptops and even small appliances like fridges. They typically have a larger capacity than smaller power banks and can be used to charge multiple devices at the same time.
In some cities where electricity blackouts last for several weeks or longer, people may turn to alternative sources of power, such as solar charging panels. These panels can convert sunlight into electricity, which can then be used to charge electronic devices and other appliances. Solar charging panels are portable and can be set up in various locations, making them a convenient option for people who need to charge their devices in areas without electricity.
There were many known cases when people with solar panels in Kharkiv were charging the phones of their neighbors to keep them online.
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite the challenges posed by russian attacks on electricity infrastructure, Ukrainians can continue working and staying connected. IT engineers, in particular, can continue working from offices with generators and access to the Starlink satellite internet service.
These tools can provide a reliable source of power and connectivity, allowing IT professionals to continue working and supporting their organizations and communities during times of crisis. While it may be difficult to maintain business as usual during an electricity blackout, these solutions can help to minimize disruptions and ensure that critical tasks can continue to be completed.
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