Iskratel, a European ICT provider, and PJSC Ukrtelecom, the incumbent monopolistic operator, and SID Bank, have signed an agreement to build a gigabit passive optical network (GPON) to connect the rural areas of Ukraine.
The two-year network construction project, backed by a total investment of almost 200 million UAH (€6.84 million), will connect more than 200 centres of population in 13 Ukrainian regions.
This is the second joint project to be undertaken by Ukrtelecom and Iskratel.
It includes the manufacture of more than 2,000 km of fibre cable and the installation of certified equipment, assembled in Slovenia at Iskratel’s production centres.
Matyazh Alyanchich, Director of Iskratel Access Division, said, “Projects funded by investment banks are playing an increasingly important role in the development of broadband Internet in Europe.
“The project, financed by SID Bank, continues the long-term cooperation between Ukrtelecom and Iskratel in the development of optical access in Ukraine.”
Yuriy Kurmaz, CEO of Ukrtelecom, added, “Being the largest telco operator of Ukraine has provided a unique opportunity in attracting European financial and production partners to a project which aims to bridge the digital divide in Ukraine.
“At this stage, the building of the network is proceeding according to plan and work has begun in the Kharkiv region. The situation around the coronavirus pandemic has not affected the planned activities of the project.”