What will happen if the internet disappears tomorrow? How to prepare today

In addition to energy infrastructure, Russia has begun attacking data centers and communication hubs of Ukrainian service providers.
In particular, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed strikes on two Kyiv data centers — NewTelco and United DC — alleging that they served the military and intelligence agencies.

On September 23rd alone, attacks in Kyiv and the surrounding region damaged key technical facilities, leaving more than 100,000 homes without internet. Strikes on the capital's infrastructure continued on September 24th.

UTELS, Pavutyna, Etherlink, Crazy Network, Cityhost, MiroHost, KIEVNET, Domonet, and FAUST/Fast.net have already reported equipment destruction and service disruptions.

Official statements from Ukrainian providers confirm the scale of the threat:

• Pavutyna: "Due to enemy shelling, one of our data centers was damaged, leaving some of our subscribers without connection for the time being."
• UTELS: "As a result of another enemy attack, one of the capital's data centers housing hub equipment was damaged... The equipment remains without power supply."

Previously, we were all mostly preparing for power outages by buying power banks and charging stations. However, recent events show that we also need to take care of connectivity itself: even a home charging station won't help you get internet if your provider's central equipment is damaged.

Reasons for the lack of landline and mobile connectivity

Loss of network access during shelling and blackouts is caused by several critical factors:

1. Destruction of backbone hubs, data centers, and physical lines

Damage to central equipment takes provider networks offline across several regions at once. Restoring server systems takes time. Likewise, communication cables laid along roads, bridges, and power lines are vulnerable to physical damage.

2. Overloading of mobile networks

Along with strikes on providers, there remains a risk of shelling of the power grid, which leads to power outages. When home Wi-Fi disappears for any of these reasons, users switch to mobile data en masse, causing cell towers to become instantly overloaded.

"If you turn off the power in a building and everyone suddenly wants to check the internet, even 5G quality will drop. The network is simply not configured to handle constant connectivity for an entire building. Usually, a phone spends 90% of the time just searching for a signal, but if everyone starts making calls, the network won't hold up," notes Adaptis co-founder Anton Sadykov.

3. Difficulty maintaining energy reserves for base stations

Under Cabinet requirements, operators are obligated to increase battery capacity at base stations, of which there are about 30,000 in Ukraine. This requires massive investment in every tower without direct state subsidies, creating a significant burden on the telecom market.

Practical steps to prepare for blackouts

1. Checking the connection technology (GPON)

Connecting via GPON technology is actually a beneficial solution for both the subscriber and the operator. The technology is based on passive equipment in the building. The optical fiber runs from a central exchange powered by high-capacity generators. One station can provide internet to 10,000 users for a long time (for example, the Adaptis corporate network can operate autonomously for up to 72 hours). The subscriber just needs to have backup power for their home router and terminal.

2. Activating the Wi-Fi Calling (Wi-Fi LTE) feature

This technology allows you to make voice calls over a home Wi-Fi network when the GSM signal disappears.

For iOS (iPhone) users:

1. Open the "Settings" app on your device.
2. Select "General" or "Cellular".
3. Tap on "Wi-Fi Calling".
4. Toggle the "Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone" switch to "On" and confirm the action in the pop-up window.

For Android users:

1. Go to your smartphone "Settings".
2. Open "Connections" or "Network & Internet".
3. Select "Mobile networks" or go to the settings of the desired SIM card.
4. Find the "Wi-Fi Calling" (or VoWiFi) function and activate the corresponding switch.

3. Purchase an additional SIM card or eSIM

Having a card from an alternative operator allows you to switch to another network if your primary operator's tower is de-energized or damaged.

Starlink satellite internet from Adaptis — your independence

In the event of total data center destruction or prolonged blackouts, satellite communication remains the only completely reliable solution. Starlink terminals do not depend on local provider equipment; they only require an open view of the sky and power.

At Adaptis, we offer ready-made solutions:

• Adaptis protective cases reliably shield Starlink terminals from external factors, which increases the overall service life of the device.
• For those who find it particularly important to stay connected even during air raids, we have the Adaptis Amulet solution — a module that integrates inside the terminal and helps it operate stably even under electronic warfare (EW) interference.
• We provide comprehensive service and technical support at every stage: from selecting the optimal plan to professional installation, configuration, and ongoing maintenance.
• All sales are conducted officially with VAT. We work with absolute transparency and provide a full package of required documents for both individuals and businesses.

Preparing backup communication channels in advance allows you to maintain access to information and stay connected under any critical conditions.

Contact Adaptis — we will take care of your connectivity wherever it's needed.