Resilient Telecom Infrastructure: Need & Challenges

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With the rising frequency of natural disasters, telecom resilience is vital for disaster preparedness, emergency response, and uninterrupted communication during crises.
To address vulnerabilities, especially in coastal regions, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have launched the Disaster Risk and Resilience Assessment Framework (DRRAF) to strengthen infrastructure, improve power backup, and enhance emergency coordination.

Key Recommendations from the CDRI Report on Telecom Resilience

Strengthening Telecom Networks: Mandate wind-resistant towers, integrate fiber optic cables underground, and prioritise undersea cabling for better disaster resilience.
Ensuring Uninterrupted Power Supply: Promote renewable energy, smart grids, and robust backup power systems for telecom networks.

AI & Satellite-Based Communication: Utilise AI, big data, GIS mapping, and satellite internet (HAPS) to ensure connectivity and predict disruptions.
Nationwide Emergency Alert System: Expand cell broadcast systems to enhance disaster preparedness and public safety.

Strengthening Policy & Coordination: Develop a unified resilience framework with inter-ministerial collaboration involving DoT, NDMA, SDMAs, and telecom providers.
Boosting Investment Through PPP & Insurance: Facilitate public-private partnerships and implement parametric insurance for disaster-proof telecom infrastructure.

Cyclone Exposure: India faces 10% of the world’s tropical cyclones, with 75% of its 7,500 km coastline prone to cyclones and tsunamis.
High-Risk Areas: Sundarbans (West Bengal) is the “Cyclone Capital of India“, while Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat are most affected.
Coastal Erosion & Sea-Level Rise: 45% of India’s coastline is eroding, and Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata face submergence risk due to rising sea levels.
Vulnerable Population & Infrastructure: 1/3^rd of India’s population (400+ million people) and critical infrastructure (ports, power plants, telecom) are at risk.
Disaster Management Initiatives: National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP), Early Warning Systems (IMD), CRZ Guidelines, and Mangrove Restoration Projects enhance resilience.

Backbone of Disaster Response: Telecom networks ensure real-time coordination between disaster management authorities, emergency services, and governance bodies, enabling swift response, rescue, and relief operations.
Economic and Security Implications: Disruptions in connectivity affect financial transactions, governance, and emergency alerts, leading to economic instability and national security risks.
Vulnerable Infrastructure: Telecom networks, including overground, underground, and undersea cables, are prone to damage from cyclones, floods, and earthquakes, requiring resilient infrastructure.
Role in Digital Inclusion & Governance: Reliable telecom networks are essential for e-governance, digital education, healthcare, remote work, and financial inclusion, driving national development and connectivity.

Coastal areas host landing stations for undersea cables, crucial for India’s global internet connectivity.
Cyclones, floods, and storm surges can disrupt these stations, leading to widespread connectivity issues.
Overland cables are particularly vulnerable to strong winds and falling debris.

Telecom infrastructure heavily depends on electricity; power outages during disasters often lead to network failures.
Diesel generators, used as backup power sources, can fail due to flooding or fuel shortages.
A lack of proactive power restoration plans further aggravates service disruptions.

Many telecom towers cannot withstand high wind speeds, leading to massive service disruptions during cyclones.
Overground optical fiber cables (OFCs) are prone to damage, while underground cables, though safer, face risks from poor urban planning and uncoordinated infrastructure projects.

Adoption of Global Best Practices: Implement international standards and learn from countries with advanced disaster-proof telecom infrastructure like Japan and the U.S. to enhance resilience.
Infrastructure & Power Resilience: Invest in fiber-optic networks, robust telecom towers, and alternative energy sources like solar-powered backup systems to ensure uninterrupted communication.
Institutional Capacity & Community Engagement: Conduct regular training for telecom operators, disaster management agencies, and local governments, while empowering communities to ensure last-mile connectivity and disaster preparedness.
Policy & Governance Reforms: Integrate disaster resilience into telecom regulations and develop risk-sharing instruments to protect telecom operators from financial vulnerabilities.
Smart Technologies & Real-Time Monitoring: Deploy AI-driven risk assessment, satellite-based communication, and automated disaster alerts for faster response and recovery.

Reference: The Hindu | PMF IAS: Disaster Management Archives

[UPSC 2024] What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030).
[UPSC 2021] Discuss the vulnerability of India to earthquake-related hazards. Give examples, including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades.
[UPSC 2020] Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India, departing from the earlier reactive approach.
[UPSC 2019] Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and their threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters.
[UPSC 2019] Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help disaster mitigation in the case of landslides.

Introduction: Briefly Introduce the answer by defining the vulnerability of India’s coastline and the essence of telecom infrastructure.
Body: Discuss the challenges in telecom connectivity & strategic measures for ensuring communication.
Conclusion: Conclude appropriately by highlighting the need for a holistic approach.