According to Ukrinform correspondent, this was stated by Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration Valeriya Ionan at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine.

Ionan stated that the Ministry of Digital team is conducting a study together with military-civil administrations to determine whether mobile and fixed internet access is available in border areas. As a result, it was determined that 503 settlements did not currently have fixed access, and 317 settlements did not have any mobile connection.

“Taking into account the war situation, we have created a temporary solution to provide internet access in these settlements using Starlink satellite terminals. Next week, we will also deliver 53 kits to be used in border settlements,” Ionan said.

The Ministry has also prepared a technical solution that will make it possible to strengthen the Internet access signal through Wi-Fi equipment within a radius of up to 1 km from the Starlink terminal. In this way, it is planned to increase the coverage area and the number of internet access users.

For this, BCAs must organize the purchase and installation of additional signal amplifiers to increase communication coverage. The Ministry of Digitalization has prepared the relevant instructions and visualization regarding this decision.

“We also held talks with mobile operators about increasing investments in network development. Following this, Kyivstar and Vodafone companies approved plans to double investments in 2024 and 2025, which will also affect the coverage of border areas. We also plan to expand mobile coverage in rural areas due to national roaming, which we plan to implement permanently We are waiting,” said Ionan.

Additionally, the Ministry of Statistics received international technical assistance in the form of grants of 700,000 euros for the restoration of destroyed Internet networks.

113 applications were submitted to the ministry from regional communities, of which 70 will receive 10,000 euros by the end of this year.

The Ministry of Digital Affairs plans to continue the subsidy project for settlements without fixed internet access in 2024, at the expense of international technical assistance. The relevant project has already been submitted for evaluation by the donor platform.

Ministry of Digital Transformation, as reported by Ukrinform will launch the “Diya.Office” service in Ukraine in order to increase work efficiency for employees of executive bodies and the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.

Photo: Valeria Ionan’s Facebook