Network resilience has transitioned from a theoretical concept to a critical component of national security. Recently, Yuriy Kurmaz, CEO of Ukrtelecom, national fixed line operator and part of SCM, addressed the European Parliament to share essential insights on this vital topic. Participating in the Connect Europe discussion titled "Networks as Defence: from Ukraine's battlefield lessons to EU resilience policy," he detailed the firsthand experience of operating telecommunications infrastructure amidst a full-scale war.
Since the onset of russia's war against Ukraine, telecom networks have operated under continuous and extreme pressure. Ukrtelecom has navigated relentless challenges, including targeted missile strikes, sophisticated cyberattacks, temporary occupation of territories, and severe, prolonged power outages. Adapting to this environment has fundamentally restructured the company's approach to network design, operational management, and overall resilience.
As Yuriy Kurmaz stated during the event, the war serves as the ultimate stress test for telecom infrastructure. His presentation reinforced the clear reality that strengthening network resilience must be an urgent priority for Europe across technical, operational, and financial dimensions. In an interconnected digital world, maintaining connectivity is no longer strictly an operational task for telecom operators; it is a baseline requirement for the continuity of societies and national security during systemic crises.
This active engagement with international institutions reflects a coordinated approach directed by our shareholder, Rinat Akhmetov. His strategy focuses on ensuring that SCM companies do not merely survive the current circumstances, but actively export their unique, hard-won expertise to fortify European resilience. This knowledge transfer spans multiple vital sectors. Just as DTEK shares its unprecedented experience in managing and repairing a national energy grid under constant bombardment, and Metinvest provides specialised expertise in the design and construction of modern steel military fortifications, Ukrtelecom is now actively shaping European telecommunications defence policy.
We extend our gratitude to Connect Europe and Alessandro Gropelli for highlighting these critical topics and facilitating this exchange of ideas. We also appreciate the valuable contributions from Pekka Toveri and representatives from the European Commission, NATO, Elisa, and Telenor, including Sanna Laaksonen, Marco Criscuolo, Jaakko Wallenius, and Eirik Owre Thorshaug.
Ukraine's wartime experience is directly shaping the future of European network architecture. SCM companies remain fully committed to supporting our European partners, sharing actionable insights, and building a highly resilient, deeply integrated infrastructure for the future.
