Enhancing Mobile and Internet Security Amidst Climate Catastrophes
The increasing frequency of severe weather events exposes vulnerabilities in telecommunications infrastructure and crisis management strategies.
The rising incidence of extreme weather events has highlighted a significant oversight in crisis management: the role of telecommunications during crises, particularly their restoration, security, and vital function in scenarios such as storms, wildfires, and floods.
Recent examples illustrate the critical impact of climate disasters on telecommunications networks.
On December 14, 2024, Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte, devastating much of the region's telecom infrastructure.
Out of 55 mobile towers, only three remained operational, with several masts toppled and antennas ripped away by fierce winds.
Furthermore, the fixed internet network suffered considerably, with most utility poles that support the cables destroyed, leaving only 3% to 4% of customers with any telephone service.
Prior adverse weather incidents have also disrupted telecom services severely.
For instance, the storm Alex impacted the Alpes-Maritimes region in October 2020. More recently, storms Ciaran and Domingos wrought damage across western France in November 2023. As Switzerland contends with the repercussions of a glacier collapse in the village of Blatten, and with weather forecasts predicting a hotter than normal summer, favorable conditions for wildfires and intense thunderstorms emerge.
This scenario underscores the necessity for telecommunications operators to enhance their networks’ resilience and restoration capabilities in the face of such climatic events.
In response to these ongoing challenges, the French government has integrated provisions to ensure the 'resilience' of telecommunications infrastructure against 'extreme climatic events' into its third climate change adaptation plan, unveiled in March.
The call for improved collaboration and integration of telecommunications into climate disaster management strategies continues to resonate as the frequency and severity of climate-related incidents escalate globally.
Recent examples illustrate the critical impact of climate disasters on telecommunications networks.
On December 14, 2024, Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte, devastating much of the region's telecom infrastructure.
Out of 55 mobile towers, only three remained operational, with several masts toppled and antennas ripped away by fierce winds.
Furthermore, the fixed internet network suffered considerably, with most utility poles that support the cables destroyed, leaving only 3% to 4% of customers with any telephone service.
Prior adverse weather incidents have also disrupted telecom services severely.
For instance, the storm Alex impacted the Alpes-Maritimes region in October 2020. More recently, storms Ciaran and Domingos wrought damage across western France in November 2023. As Switzerland contends with the repercussions of a glacier collapse in the village of Blatten, and with weather forecasts predicting a hotter than normal summer, favorable conditions for wildfires and intense thunderstorms emerge.
This scenario underscores the necessity for telecommunications operators to enhance their networks’ resilience and restoration capabilities in the face of such climatic events.
In response to these ongoing challenges, the French government has integrated provisions to ensure the 'resilience' of telecommunications infrastructure against 'extreme climatic events' into its third climate change adaptation plan, unveiled in March.
The call for improved collaboration and integration of telecommunications into climate disaster management strategies continues to resonate as the frequency and severity of climate-related incidents escalate globally.