Building Resilient Telecom Infrastructure: Lessons from India

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Telecom Infrastructure Latest News
• Introduction
• Importance of Resilient Telecom Infrastructure
• Key Challenges in Disaster-Prone Areas
• Solutions for Building a Disaster-Resilient Telecom Network
• Future Roadmap for Telecom Resilience in India
• Conclusion
• Resilient Telecom Infrastructure in India FAQs

Telecom Infrastructure Latest News

• The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a multilateral organisation launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, put out a report earlier this month studying Indian telecom networks’ preparedness in the event of disasters.

Introduction

• India’s telecom infrastructure plays a critical role in disaster response, ensuring uninterrupted communication for emergency services and the public.
• However, natural calamities such as cyclones, earthquakes, and floods pose a severe threat to these networks.
• The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a global initiative launched by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, recently released a report analysing India’s telecom preparedness for disasters.
• The findings emphasize the vulnerabilities in telecom networks and outline key measures to enhance resilience, power stability, and rapid recovery during emergencies.

Importance of Resilient Telecom Infrastructure

• Telecom networks are essential for disaster management as they enable quick communication between:
  • National Disaster Management Authorities (NDMA) and local administrations.
  • Emergency services and citizens in affected areas.
  • State and central governments to coordinate relief efforts.
• However, telecom networks are highly vulnerable due to their dependency on above-ground cables, tower strength, and electricity supply. A natural disaster can severely disrupt services, affecting rescue operations and public communication.

Key Challenges in Disaster-Prone Areas

• High Risk in Coastal and Seismic Zones
  • Coastal regions are particularly vulnerable as undersea cables connect India to global internet networks.
  • Earthquakes and cyclones can damage telecom towers, leading to massive service outages.
• Power Failures: The Biggest Issue
  • Telecom towers rely heavily on uninterrupted power supply, but disasters often cause prolonged blackouts.
  • Lack of electricity delays network restoration, making it difficult for operators to bring services back online.
• Structural Weakness of Telecom Towers
  • Many towers are not built to withstand high wind speeds, especially in coastal states.
  • Poorly planned overhead cables snap easily during storms, leading to service breakdowns.

Solutions for Building a Disaster-Resilient Telecom Network

• Strengthening Power Infrastructure
  • Ensuring uninterrupted power supply to critical telecom sites.
  • Reserving fuel stocks for emergency use at telecom towers.
  • Installing solar or hybrid power solutions to reduce dependency on the grid.
• Building Stronger Telecom Towers
  • Mandating higher wind resistance standards for towers in cyclone-prone areas.
  • Elevating diesel generators at tower sites to prevent flood-related failures.
• Underground Fiber Optic Cables and Dig-Once Policy
  • Overhead telecom cables often snap in extreme weather. The report recommends shifting to underground fiber optic cables wherever possible.
  • Implementing a "dig-once" policy, where underground cables are laid alongside other infrastructure like water and gas pipelines, reducing repeated disruptions.
• Better Disaster Monitoring and Response
  • Real-time tracking of telecom asset damage using software and AI-driven data collection.
  • Emergency fuel distribution to keep towers operational.
  • Collaboration between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and telecom operators to ensure rapid damage assessment and restoration.
• Financial Resilience through Parametric Insurance
  • The report highlights parametric insurance as a key financial tool.
  • This ensures that telecom operators receive compensation quickly after a disaster, enabling faster network restoration.

Future Roadmap for Telecom Resilience in India

• Short-Term Initiatives (1-2 years)
  • Strengthening backup power systems at telecom towers.
  • Implementing real-time damage monitoring through software tools.
  • Upgrading telecom infrastructure in high-risk coastal and seismic areas.
• Medium-Term Initiatives (3-5 years)
  • Nationwide shift towards underground fiber optic networks.
  • Mandatory disaster-proofing of new telecom towers.
  • Creating a coordinated response mechanism for telecom outages.
• Long-Term Vision (Beyond 5 years)
  • Achieving a 100% disaster-resilient telecom infrastructure across India.
  • Developing policy frameworks for telecom disaster preparedness at national and state levels.
  • Increasing investment in climate-resilient infrastructure through public-private partnerships.

Conclusion

• India’s telecom infrastructure is essential for disaster response, but it remains highly vulnerable to natural calamities.
• The CDRI report highlights the urgent need for structural upgrades, power stability, underground fiber networks, and improved disaster coordination.
• By implementing these measures, India can ensure minimal communication disruptions during emergencies, enabling faster rescue operations and better crisis management.

Resilient Telecom Infrastructure in India FAQs

Q1. What is the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)?

Ans. CDRI is a global initiative launched by India in 2019 to strengthen disaster resilience in critical infrastructure, including telecom networks.

Q2. Why is power failure a major issue for telecom networks during disasters?

Ans. Telecom towers rely on uninterrupted power supply, and blackouts during disasters delay network restoration, disrupting communication.

Q3. What is the "dig-once" policy in telecom infrastructure?

Ans. It recommends laying underground telecom cables alongside water, gas, and drainage pipelines to prevent repeated disruptions.

Q4. How can telecom networks be protected from disasters?

Ans. Key measures include underground fiber optic cables, stronger towers, backup power systems, and better disaster monitoring tools.

Q5. What is parametric insurance, and how does it help telecom resilience?

Ans. Parametric insurance ensures quick financial compensation for telecom operators after disasters, allowing faster network restoration.

Source: TH