2 . DI SASTE R PR OOFI N G OF TE LE COMMUNI C ATI ON S
Why in News?
The recent Kerala floods witnessed a large-scale failure in communications services, calling for adequate preparedness measures in dealing with the aftermath of disasters on the part of telecom operators, policy-makers
and disaster management agencies.
Consequences of Communications infrastructure failure:
• Preventing Emergency Response: In the immediate hours following disaster, relief efforts can be paralyzed or severely delayed if the responding agencies are unable to communicate with one another.
• Effective coordination becomes further complicated: the lack of an overarching command
How Communications Infrastructure Fails During a Disaster?
• Physical damage to devices or components: Cyclones, floodwaters, and seismic activity can create physical disturbances significantly damaging the communications equipment’s. These have the potential to be incredibly costly and time consuming to restore, as they require maintenance or sometimes replacement of complex network hardware to re-establish communications.
• Damage to Wireless systems: as different wavelength signals can be cut off by heavy rain, snow, or fog. The transmitter itself can also receive damage or be knocked out of alignment with its receiver.
• Network Congestion: During disasters, the communications networks often become congested with exceptionally high levels of data traffic. When this happens, communications can be severely limited or even cut off completely, and important messages are often lost.
structure can create miscommunications and delays in action. This may further impact information sharing and quick decision making in such crucial times.
• Significantly reduces the resilience of communities exposed to risk due to lack of well-designed communications and information infrastructure, as observed during Uttarakhand, Mumbai and Chennai floods in recent past.
• Spread of false information and confusion: Without an organized flow of information, there may be spread of misinformation and panic at a time when organization and level-headedness are key to carrying out rescue operations as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) prescribed by Department of Telecom (DoT):
• Telecommunication equipment should be installed at suitable locations in disaster prone areas to be able to withstand impacts of any disaster, e.g. in flood prone areas location of exchanges/ critical equipment to be preferably at higher altitude area to avoid inundation of water.
• Critical equipment should not be concentrated in one building, also, earthquake-proofing towers in known risk areas and developing a satellite-based system which can provide back-up communications and data connectivity also need to be prioritized.
Additional Information
The new digital telecommunication policy also talks about developing a comprehensive plan for network preparedness, disaster response relief, restoration and reconstruction
• Redundant microwave, aerial or underground links and other network elements such as switches etc. should be secured in alternative locations. In hilly and remote area, satellite connectivity should be preferred.
• Novel traffic deluge management techniques, which differentiate urgent and delay-tolerant services, can provide connectivity for urgent services while delay-tolerant services may be redirected to a temporary facility.
• Telecommunication Service Providers (TSPs) to identify vulnerability of their respective telecom infrastructure and accordingly prepare plan for emergency situations. Provision of sufficient backups of network elements, gen-sets/batteries and fuel can prevent total failures from minor equipment damage. Low power consumption equipment should be preferred at all vulnerable / critical locations.
• Priority needs to be given to designated users engaged in relief operations. Public is also required to be made aware to use alternate mode of communications such as SMS or internet media whenever congestion in the voice calling in mobile network is experienced.
• TSPs shall identify Main and alternate Nodal officers at central level and at every telecom circle level and publicize their full contact details for coordination related to disaster management prominently on their website.
• TSPs shall have a Disaster Response Task Force (DRTF) at State level and Rapid Damage Assessment Team (RDAT). DRTF teams will be responsible for immediate provisioning of emergency communication and restoration of telecom services in disaster affected areas whereas, RDAT shall work to determine the precise nature and extent of damage so that the planning for restoration of telecommunication services can be done in the efficient and effective manner.
• MoUs among TSPs for restoration of Telecom services in emergencies and disaster conditions should be signed. TSPs may enter into Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) among themselves for sharing specialized resources and Intra-circle roaming for provisioning of services.
• Geographically dispersed servers and use of cloud-based platforms to make data services more accessible.
• Operators should be mandated to provide mobile base stations and backpack devices in case of disaster when terrestrial network gets damaged.
Way Forward
• Value added information along with data must be sent to the right people at the right time by establishing a reliable, dedicated and latest technology based, National Disaster Communication Network (NDCN), with particular emphasis on last-mile connectivity to the affected community during all phases of disaster continuum.
• Network path diversity is one of the most effective tactics to reduce the risk of communications failure during a disaster.
About National Disaster Communication
Network (NDCN)
NDCN will be a network of networks created by leveraging existing communication networks, including NICNET, SWANs, POLNET, DMNET (ISRO) and connecting them to various Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) which will be established at National (NEOC), State (SEOCs) and Districts (DEOCs) Level.
This is accomplished by establishing two or more network connections that use either a different type of technology or follow a different physical path, minimizing the chance that both connections will be knocked out at the same time.
• Because network connections cannot always be preserved in a disaster scenario, another effective method for maintaining and/or restoring communications in the hours immediately following the event is to establish one or more ad-hoc network links.
• Reconstruction and recovery in infrastructure sectors must follow the “Build Back Better” principle for multiple hazards.
Why in News?
The recent Kerala floods witnessed a large-scale failure in communications services, calling for adequate preparedness measures in dealing with the aftermath of disasters on the part of telecom operators, policy-makers
and disaster management agencies.
Consequences of Communications infrastructure failure:
• Preventing Emergency Response: In the immediate hours following disaster, relief efforts can be paralyzed or severely delayed if the responding agencies are unable to communicate with one another.
• Effective coordination becomes further complicated: the lack of an overarching command
How Communications Infrastructure Fails During a Disaster?
• Physical damage to devices or components: Cyclones, floodwaters, and seismic activity can create physical disturbances significantly damaging the communications equipment’s. These have the potential to be incredibly costly and time consuming to restore, as they require maintenance or sometimes replacement of complex network hardware to re-establish communications.
• Damage to Wireless systems: as different wavelength signals can be cut off by heavy rain, snow, or fog. The transmitter itself can also receive damage or be knocked out of alignment with its receiver.
• Network Congestion: During disasters, the communications networks often become congested with exceptionally high levels of data traffic. When this happens, communications can be severely limited or even cut off completely, and important messages are often lost.
structure can create miscommunications and delays in action. This may further impact information sharing and quick decision making in such crucial times.
• Significantly reduces the resilience of communities exposed to risk due to lack of well-designed communications and information infrastructure, as observed during Uttarakhand, Mumbai and Chennai floods in recent past.
• Spread of false information and confusion: Without an organized flow of information, there may be spread of misinformation and panic at a time when organization and level-headedness are key to carrying out rescue operations as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) prescribed by Department of Telecom (DoT):
• Telecommunication equipment should be installed at suitable locations in disaster prone areas to be able to withstand impacts of any disaster, e.g. in flood prone areas location of exchanges/ critical equipment to be preferably at higher altitude area to avoid inundation of water.
• Critical equipment should not be concentrated in one building, also, earthquake-proofing towers in known risk areas and developing a satellite-based system which can provide back-up communications and data connectivity also need to be prioritized.
Additional Information
The new digital telecommunication policy also talks about developing a comprehensive plan for network preparedness, disaster response relief, restoration and reconstruction
• Redundant microwave, aerial or underground links and other network elements such as switches etc. should be secured in alternative locations. In hilly and remote area, satellite connectivity should be preferred.
• Novel traffic deluge management techniques, which differentiate urgent and delay-tolerant services, can provide connectivity for urgent services while delay-tolerant services may be redirected to a temporary facility.
• Telecommunication Service Providers (TSPs) to identify vulnerability of their respective telecom infrastructure and accordingly prepare plan for emergency situations. Provision of sufficient backups of network elements, gen-sets/batteries and fuel can prevent total failures from minor equipment damage. Low power consumption equipment should be preferred at all vulnerable / critical locations.
• Priority needs to be given to designated users engaged in relief operations. Public is also required to be made aware to use alternate mode of communications such as SMS or internet media whenever congestion in the voice calling in mobile network is experienced.
• TSPs shall identify Main and alternate Nodal officers at central level and at every telecom circle level and publicize their full contact details for coordination related to disaster management prominently on their website.
• TSPs shall have a Disaster Response Task Force (DRTF) at State level and Rapid Damage Assessment Team (RDAT). DRTF teams will be responsible for immediate provisioning of emergency communication and restoration of telecom services in disaster affected areas whereas, RDAT shall work to determine the precise nature and extent of damage so that the planning for restoration of telecommunication services can be done in the efficient and effective manner.
• MoUs among TSPs for restoration of Telecom services in emergencies and disaster conditions should be signed. TSPs may enter into Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) among themselves for sharing specialized resources and Intra-circle roaming for provisioning of services.
• Geographically dispersed servers and use of cloud-based platforms to make data services more accessible.
• Operators should be mandated to provide mobile base stations and backpack devices in case of disaster when terrestrial network gets damaged.
Way Forward
• Value added information along with data must be sent to the right people at the right time by establishing a reliable, dedicated and latest technology based, National Disaster Communication Network (NDCN), with particular emphasis on last-mile connectivity to the affected community during all phases of disaster continuum.
• Network path diversity is one of the most effective tactics to reduce the risk of communications failure during a disaster.
About National Disaster Communication
Network (NDCN)
NDCN will be a network of networks created by leveraging existing communication networks, including NICNET, SWANs, POLNET, DMNET (ISRO) and connecting them to various Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) which will be established at National (NEOC), State (SEOCs) and Districts (DEOCs) Level.
This is accomplished by establishing two or more network connections that use either a different type of technology or follow a different physical path, minimizing the chance that both connections will be knocked out at the same time.
• Because network connections cannot always be preserved in a disaster scenario, another effective method for maintaining and/or restoring communications in the hours immediately following the event is to establish one or more ad-hoc network links.
• Reconstruction and recovery in infrastructure sectors must follow the “Build Back Better” principle for multiple hazards.
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