Expert Interview: Communication Channels from Ukraine to Poland

Reliable communication channels with Europe, particularly with Poland, have become a vital necessity for many Ukrainian companies and organizations, especially during the full-scale invasion. Geographical proximity and historical ties have always defined the interaction between Ukraine and Poland. Today, these relations are strengthened by the rapid development of the digital economy and the need for uninterrupted information exchange. The success of countless business processes, remote work, and even the functioning of critical systems depends on the stability and bandwidth of these communication channels.

How is this connection ensured? What technologies underpin it? And what challenges must be overcome to guarantee the stability and security of data transmission? To answer these questions, we spoke with Olena Bondar, BDM at Hostpark, who is directly involved in supporting digital bridges between Ukraine and Poland.

Olena, why has the Ukraine-Poland connection become so important now?

After the full-scale invasion, when part of Ukraine’s infrastructure was damaged or threatened, and considering the mass relocation of Ukrainian businesses to Poland, uninterrupted and high-quality communication became vital. In the current environment, the stability, speed, security, and fault tolerance of communication channels between Ukraine and Poland are fundamental requirements for supporting the economy, business operations, and ensuring digital security.

What are the main types of communication channels currently used for data transfer between Ukraine and Poland?

The primary and most reliable type of communication channel for data transfer between Ukraine and Poland is fiber optics. Fiber optic lines form the backbone of modern telecommunication infrastructure, providing high bandwidth, low latency, and resistance to electromagnetic interference. Previously, traffic might have routed through third countries, such as Germany, but with the development of direct connections, this need has diminished.

Is there a shortage of bandwidth on existing channels, especially during peak periods?

A complete shortage of bandwidth on the main interstate channels between Ukraine and Poland is not observed, as leading operators constantly invest in network expansion. However, during peak periods or under certain circumstances, such as large-scale cyberattacks or temporary technical failures in specific sections, a local increase in latency or a temporary decrease in speed for individual users is possible.

What are Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) and where are they located?

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) are critically important nodes where various internet providers and networks directly exchange data, without the need to route traffic through third-party transit operators.

For communication between Ukraine and Poland, the most important IXPs are:

• In Ukraine:
  • UA-IX – The oldest and one of the key IXPs in Ukraine. It ensures direct traffic exchange between Ukrainian internet providers and content providers, reducing latency and costs. It has points of presence at several technical sites in Kyiv, including Leontovycha St., 9. It unites 218 participants.
  • DTEL-IX – A large, rapidly developing independent IXP and one of the most dynamic in Eastern Europe. It optimizes routing and traffic exchange between Ukrainian and international operators. It has points of presence in several key data centers in Kyiv, including “Newtelco Ukraine” (Simei Prakhovykh St., 50), “BI MOBILE,” “Kyiv Telecenter,” Leontovycha St., 9. It unites a significant number of participants (239), including international and national operators.
• In Poland: Thinx IX – This is the proprietary Internet Exchange Point of Atman, one of the leading data center operators and telecommunications providers in Poland. The main node of Thinx IX is located in the Atman WAW-2 data center. Thinx IX has a network of access nodes in 14 Polish cities, as well as a presence in 2 locations abroad. Thinx IX offers free, open peering for nearly 200 of its participants, including large content providers. This allows for IP traffic exchange with internal networks, European content providers, and global portals. In addition to free peering, Thinx IX also offers additional services such as IP transit to most networks present at other Polish IXPs (e.g., EPIX/Polmix, PLIX), and international networks such as DE-CIX and Giganet.

What solutions and services does Hostpark offer to ensure stable and high-speed communication channels between Ukraine and Poland?

Firstly, it’s the “data transmission channel” or L2 service, based on the MPLS network. This type of service provides symmetric Ethernet data bandwidth, transmitted in any direction between two user networks, with performance guaranteed according to the SLA. L2 supports bandwidths ranging from 100 Mbps up to 10 Gbps.

Secondly, connection to Internet Exchange Points (IXP): Providing clients access to key IXPs in Ukraine and Poland to optimize routes and reduce latency.

IP transit service: Providing access to the global internet through our own or partner backbone channels.

Colocation: The possibility of placing client servers and other equipment in data centers in Poland and Ukraine, which is essential for low latency and high service availability.

Hostpark offers continuous 24/7 technical support and prompt response to inquiries. Information about the actual load on our backbones is always publicly available. If specifically required, our company is ready to provide channels for testing before concluding a cooperation agreement.

What technologies do you use to optimize data transmission and reduce latency?

Hostpark optimizes data transmission and reduces latency by using intelligent routing (BGP), direct peering connections at key IXPs, and modern optical equipment.

Do you cooperate with Polish data centers? How does this cooperation affect the quality of services for Ukrainian companies?

Of course, Hostpark is the exclusive representative of the Atman data center in Ukraine. Atman has its own data centers in Poland. Specifically, Atman WAW-1 in Warsaw is one of the largest data center operators in Poland and Eastern Europe. Moreover, we have direct connections with major data centers and hyperscalers. We also provide Cloud Connect service to Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Salesforce, and Alibaba Cloud. This allows clients to significantly save on traffic fees, as the fee is charged only for channel width, not data volume.

What trends do you foresee in the development of communication infrastructure between Ukraine and Poland in the near future?

In my opinion, these include an increase in bandwidth and diversification of routes due to growing demand and the strategic importance of the connection. There is also a strengthening of integration with EU networks; I believe Poland will become a key hub. And of course, the use of new technologies for building technical nodes.

What prospects do reliable and high-speed communication channels open for Ukrainian and Polish businesses?

Reliable and high-speed communication channels between Ukraine and Poland open up broad prospects for businesses in both countries: market expansion, increased operational efficiency, development of the IT industry and outsourcing, creation of joint projects, and enhanced business resilience and security through the possibility of data backup in Poland.

What advice can you give to companies looking for reliable cross-country communication solutions?

1. Clearly define your requirements for traffic, security, and latency.
2. Choose providers with their own infrastructure and redundant routes.
3. Carefully review the SLA (uptime and speed guarantees).
4. Pay attention to IXP connectivity and cybersecurity issues.

We sincerely thank Olena Bondar for her expert answers and valuable information, which helped us better understand the importance and complexity of ensuring reliable communication channels between Ukraine and Poland.

Evidently, companies that understand the value of high-quality communication and choose reliable partners with their own diversified infrastructure gain a significant competitive advantage in the digital age. A stable and high-speed “digital bridge” to Europe is a guarantee of Ukraine’s further economic development and its successful integration into the global community.

Have more questions? Contact us at 096 785 0101. Our managers will be happy to consult you!