Fixed-line internet will become more expensive in 2026. But there is an alternative.

Fixed-line internet providers incur millions in costs to ensure stable network operation during prolonged power outages. Companies invest in energy modernization of their infrastructure by purchasing batteries, generators, and fuel. And they are gradually incorporating these costs into their tariffs. Therefore, in 2026, the average cost of the service will increase, according to an analyst and a market participant interviewed by LIGA.net.In parallel, providers are developing the so-called "power-independent" internet – PON technology. Its subscription fee has almost caught up with regular cable access, but demand for it is unstable: from a surge during mass blackouts to a sharp drop as soon as the situation in the power system improves.How much will fixed-line internet become more expensive and is PON really a viable alternative? Find out in this LIGA.net article.How much will the internet get more expensive and whyAs with mobile communicationThe autonomy of fixed internet requires backup power – batteries and fuel generators. This significantly increases operating costs for providers, but their scale depends on the connection technology.Ethernet (Fiber to the x) remains the most common technology in large cities in Ukraine. With this scheme, a fiber optic cable reaches a switch near the building, and then the signal is transmitted to apartments via a copper cable. The switch requires a constant power supply.In Kyiv, the most typical model is when the switch is installed in the entrance and is completely dependent on the availability of electricity in the building, explains Oleksandr Hlushchenko, a digital technology consultant and former CEO of the OTT service Omega TV..However, installing a backup power supply in each entrance is either technically impossible – there might not be enough space – or very difficult from the perspective of servicing hundreds of pieces of equipment.Another option is FTTH (Fiber to the home), where the fiber optic cable reaches the apartment directly. In this case, the active equipment is concentrated at a single technical site of the provider, which reduces operating costs, explains Oleksandr Harutyunyan, head of the "Pavutyna" provider and board member of the Internet Association of Ukraine (InAU)."A single point of active equipment that relies on light can provide internet coverage for an entire neighborhood," explains Harutyunyan.However, the winter of 2025/2026 showed that one battery is no longer enough. "When outages last 24–30 hours, you need to at least double the battery capacity," says digital technology consultant Hlushchenko.These investments will inevitably be reflected in the tariffs. According to Hlushchenko's estimates, in 2026, the cost of the internet for subscribers of Ethernet networks may increase by 20%.Even those providers who have previously carried out energy modernization are facing increased costs due to the use of generators during periods when batteries are insufficient. For example, "Pavutyna" currently spends about UAH 700,000 per month on fuel, whereas before the mass outages, it was about UAH 100,000.With the arrival of spring, costs may decrease due to reduced consumption and increased solar energy generation. The total capacity of solar power plants in Ukraine exceeds 7 GW. Therefore, some providers will be able to get through 2026 without a sharp increase in tariffs, compensating for costs with their own profits.However, companies that have not invested in energy modernization or have done so without tariff adjustments risk losing their competitive advantage.Today, the median subscription fee for fixed-line internet in Kyiv and the region is about 300 UAH per month, says Harutyunyan. In cottage communities, it can reach 500 UAH, and in remote villages, it's about 200 UAH.On average, tariffs across the country may increase by 15-20%, primarily in regions with frequent outages. In more energy-stable regions, the increase is likely to be limited to 5-7%. In Kyiv, this could mean an additional 45-100 UAH per month, provided the supply is stable. course and prices for fuel.Read alsoA voice from the darkness. Why mobile and internet connections deteriorate during power outages"Internet without electricity" is developing slowlyRegardless of the providers' costs, Ethernet does not guarantee connectivity during blackouts: if there is no electricity in the apartment, fixed-line internet does not work.Only a passive optical network (PON) provides real autonomy. It minimizes the number of active nodes by replacing them with passive optical splitters that do not require power. This allows the network to operate for over 72 hours without centralized electricity.However, in the apartment, the subscriber must power the ONU terminal (optical terminal) and the router themselves. They can run for up to 10 hours on a 20,000 mAh power bank.As our sources say and the provider websites reviewed by LIGA.net show, some of them will provide an ONU terminal to a client wishing to join PON either for free or include the cost of the equipment in the tariff. The connection itself will also often be free of charge if there is a fiber-optic connection in the customer's building.If it is not available, operators will often provide a connection to the PON for the house without their own markup. The cost of connecting one subscriber to the PON is $40, says digital technology consultant Oleksandr Hlushchenko.Despite its advantages, PON is spreading slowly. According to the NCCIR, the share of such connections increased from 48.3% in Q4 2024 to 52% in 2025.In the first half of 2024, Kyiv will be connected to PON. was attached only up to 10% of subscribers. Now that number is higher, Oleksandr Harutyunyan is sure. But he adds that the demand for PON internet connections is high only during prolonged power outages.During such periods, providers even experience queues for PON connections – for example, "Pavutyna" currently has a schedule booked a month in advance. When the situation in the energy system stabilizes, the number of applications for passive optical network connections decreases "by more than tenfold."Why isn't PON technology developing very quickly, despite incentives from providers? According to Hlushchenko, the problem lies in consumer psychology – most subscribers are not willing to spend money in advance to have uninterrupted internet in the future."A year ago, I connected a second provider to my apartment using PON technology to have a backup internet connection. My router only switched to this provider for the first time recently, when the duration of outages increased to 22 hours – all this time I was paying just for the ability to stay connected in emergency situations," Hlushchenko says, sharing his personal experience.Therefore, PON is no longer fundamentally more expensive than regular fixed-line internet. In Kyiv and the region, the subscription fee for passive optical networks is often comparable to Ethernet and differs by only a few tens of hryvnias.The main difference for the subscriber is not in the monthly fee, but in the willingness to invest in a backup power supply for equipment at home. In fact, PON costs a little more "at the start", but provides a stable connection when regular cable internet stops working.

Fixed-line internet will become more expensive in 2026. But there is an alternative.

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Fixed-line internet will become more expensive in 2026. But there is an alternative.

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