Leading Ukrainian telecom service provider, Kyivstar is devoting significant resources to keeping Ukrainians connected despite wartime conditions and implementing humanitarian projects in the country. Despite the crisis conditions and daily risks, Kyivstar continues to operate and provide communication and data transmission services to 25 million mobile subscribers and more than 1 million fixed broadband Internet subscribers. In addition, Kyivstar provides communication and data transfer services for over 50% of all commercial enterprises in Ukraine, state, and public organizations. The Company provides a wide range of services and digital products based on mobile and fixed technologies such as Big Data, Cloud Computing, digital TV, cyber security services, broadband Internet, e-learning, and more. 

Leaving a Mark Through Excellent Leadership

Volodymyr Lutchenko, 46 years old is a Chief Technology Officer at Kyivstar. He has over 25 years of experience in telecommunications in Ukraine. Before joining Kyivstar, Volodymyr worked for different telco and Internet providers, such as Data Group, Vega Telecom, and Lifecell.  

As a CTO, Volodymyr works tirelessly to overcome challenges during the past almost fifteen months of wartime, while Kyivstar has launched a series of initiatives to protect its telco network from destruction and energy blackouts. Along with this, he also organizes work on countering cyber threats and cyber attacks, the number of which has increased by 450% during the war. 

Most recently, the CTO oversaw the building of over 900 new 4G mastheads, the modernization of 8000 сellular towers, and the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. Under his leadership, Kyivstar's technical team re-established mobile connections in over 800 liberated territories where people had been previously deprived of access to telecom services because of the hostilities. 

Having the Power to Make a Difference

With Volodymyr's arrival in November 2021, the Сompany began to develop a road map of anti-crisis actions to strengthen the protection of the telecommunications network in the event of hostilities. Within the road map, there were implemented hundreds of actions, such construction of reserved Network management centers, backing up databases, moving critical equipment from the South and East to the West of Ukraine, backing up of all critical telco and IT systems,  construction of reserved HLR\HSS in Western Ukraine, etc.  As a result of his efforts and providing measures in a short time, the Company has deployed flexible network architecture that allows it to save the network functions and restore its services even in the event of blackouts, fiber optic breaches, and cellular station destructions.  

Golden CTO Personality Traits 

Although there is no limit to the skills a CIO must possess, a person must be well-versed in technology and have deep technical expertise. In Volodymyr's opinion, the qualities of a CTO include having accumulated vast technical experience by having worked on different levels of development and having dealt with many challenges. When a company has a loyal consumer base, it thrives. Therefore, understanding the needs of customers is an essential part of any business.

Three Secrets of Being the Best

First and the most important thing for any business is to listen. Listen to the customer's needs, and what is important to them and Kyivstar is an expert in it. Secondly, as a technological leader, the company builds its telco networks based on future-proof and innovative solutions from trusted vendors and partners; last but not least it tries to keep the promises and assure the best quality of experience (QoE) in the network touch point.

Building the Future with Astounding Technologies 

Technologies like Automation, Cloud Computing, Big Data, and Robotics are impacting today's world. In the past few years, Kyivstar has experienced big changes in the telecommunication industry due to the comprehensive penetration of many disruptive technologies like cloud computing into network infrastructure; AI and ML are enabling smart operation and zero-touch network concept; big data and automation are helping to increase the efficiency of internal processes and to address cyber security threats. In Volodymyr's words, the role of the CTO in these circumstances is continuously tending to all-around one combining CTIO and CCSO in one position.

Action is the Foundational Key to Success

Kyivstar definitely will remain a market and technological leader in Ukrainian telecommunications. The global telecommunication industry will develop further towards hyper-connectivity (variety of access technologies, frequencies, and types of user equipment); cloudification;  broad implementation of AI into main technological processes (network planning, support, optimization); networks slicing and private networks for versatile industries; almost full transition to digital channels in customer care.

Build Trust, Be Goal-oriented, Be Humble

In addition to a bachelor's and master's degree, a chief technology officer needs to acquire many years of real-world work experience. According to Volodymyr, CTOs must have a solid foundation of high-level technical, financial, organizational, and leadership experience. Both a technical and strategic executive, and a CTO must cope with stress related to leadership and coming from the development teams, the other CxOs, and customers. CTOs face huge challenges. To adapt to the changing technological landscape, CTOs must focus on creating a strong workforce, infrastructure, data management, and robust software. Building an offshore team of skilled software developers can help.

Management: Volodymyr Lutchenko, CTO, Kyivstar

Website: https://kyivstar.ua/