The LCC “Danet” is an internet provider that has been operating in Derhachi since 2015. The company has its own fibre-optic networks in all districts of the city and provides subscribers on almost every street. The company’s philosophy is to perceive its business, employees and customers as one big family that can only grow through unconditional love and care.
From the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Derhachi community suffered from the horrors of war due to its proximity to the border with Russia (less than 2 km). About 45% of the community’s territory was under occupation. The city of Derhachi was not occupied, but the Russian army shelled it daily with artillery, rockets and bombs, including the use of prohibited weapons. The community’s territory had the status of a “grey zone”, where the fiercest fighting continued, and the town suffered significant damage.
Due to the daily shelling, the network of LLC “Danet” was severely damaged and required partial or complete restoration in different parts of the city. A rocket hit the building of the Derhachi House of Culture and completely destroyed LLC “Danet” servers and switching equipment.
By participating in and winning a grant competition under the ReACT4UA programme funded by the German government and implemented by the German federal company “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the LCC “Danet” was able to purchase the necessary materials to repair and replace the fibre-optic network, restore subscriber connections and ensure the network’s autonomous operation during blackouts.
“The grants that the LCC “Danet” received under the ReACT4UA programme allowed us to purchase the necessary equipment to restore and repair damaged networks. Such support and grant projects are very important, as the business of Ukrainian providers in the frontline, de-occupied and border areas has found itself in difficult conditions. 90% of subscribers were forced to leave the city at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the networks are constantly damaged by Russian attacks, and there are great risks for repair and restoration teams. However, we continue to operate, provide communication services to civilians and the military, and are able to work,” says Natalya Fisun, Director of the LLC “Danet”.
Today, the population of the community has grown again to almost 20,000 people, of whom 16,000 live in Derhachi, which is 90% of the pre-war population. Not only local residents have returned to Derhachi, but also people from the destroyed settlements in the north have moved there. This has significantly increased the demand for internet connection, and the LCC “Danet” has managed to increase the number of subscribers by 15% and improve the quality of its services thanks to its participation in the programme.
Reference information
Non-reversible financial support (grants) to Ukrainian telecommunication operators in de-occupied territories is provided within the international cooperation project ReACT4UA (“Utilization and Implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine in the field of trade”), financed by the German Government and implemented by the German federal company “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH”. The grants were made possible by ad-hoc funding from the German Government. The programme aims to support Ukraine’s economic resilience, recovery and growth, create better conditions for the development of Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as support innovation and exports.
The strategic implementer of the programme is the German federal company “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH”. The implementing partner is Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO). The support is given by: The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
The contents are the sole responsibility of BRDO and do not necessary reflect the views of the European Union and the German Government.
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