Page 294 - Kaleidoscope Academic Conference Proceedings 2024

2024 ITU Kaleidoscope Academic Conference

2. THE ROLE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2.4 Recovery phase: Restoration of
INFRASTRUCTURE IN DISASTER telecommunications services and infrastructure
MANAGEMENT In the recovery phase, the restoration of telecommunications
services and infrastructure is crucial for supporting long-
2.1 Mitigation phase: Early warning systems and term recovery and reconstruction efforts. Telecom providers
public awareness need to quickly assess the extent of damage to their networks,
In the mitigation phase, telecommunications infrastructure prioritize repairs, and deploy resources to restore
plays a crucial role in disseminating early warnings and connectivity in the affected areas. The rapid restoration of
promoting public awareness about potential cyclone threats. communication services is essential for enabling the flow of
Government authorities including disaster management information between government agencies, humanitarian
authorities through telecom service providers send targeted organizations, and affected communities, facilitating the
alerts and notifications to the public through Cell Broadcast coordination of relief efforts, and supporting the delivery of
Systems, SMSs, voice messages, social media campaigns essential supplies and services. Telecom infrastructure also
and web & mobile applications [1]. These early warning plays a vital role in supporting the social and economic
systems can provide timely information about the expected recovery of affected communities, by enabling access to
path, intensity, and potential impacts of an approaching online resources, facilitating financial transactions, and
cyclone, allowing communities to take necessary precautions supporting the resumption of business activities
and initiate evacuation procedures.
3. REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING
2.2 Preparedness phase: Contingency planning and RESILIENT TELECOM SYSTEMS
capacity building
During the preparedness phase, telecommunications 3.1 Network redundancy and diversity
infrastructure is essential for supporting contingency One of the key requirements for building resilient telecom
planning and capacity building efforts. Government systems is ensuring network redundancy and diversity, as
authorities should prepare and implement plans to address enumerated in ITU-T Recommendation Y.3053. Telecom
issues such as network resilience, backup power systems, network redundancy refers to "the installation of additional
emergency communication protocols, and resource or alternate instances of network devices and communication
allocation. Telecom companies should invest in capacity mediums to ensure network availability in case of device or
building initiatives, such as training programs for their path failures and unavailability" [2]. The types of telecom
personnel on disaster response procedures, as well as network redundancies are shown in Figure 1 below:
collaborating with other stakeholders to conduct joint
simulation exercises and drills. These efforts help ensure that
the telecommunications infrastructure is well-prepared to
withstand the impacts of cyclones and support effective
disaster response operations.

2.3 Response phase: Enabling communication
between first responders and affected
communities
During the response phase, immediately following a cyclone
landfall, telecommunications infrastructure is critical for
enabling communication between first responders and
affected communities. Resilient telecom networks allow
Figure 1-Telecom Network Redundancy mechanisms
emergency services, share real-time information, and
respond effectively to the needs of the affected population.
Telecom network redundancy is crucial in cyclone-prone
Telecom providers can prioritize the restoration of essential areas to ensure continuous communication during disasters.
communication channels, such as emergency helplines and
Multiple backup systems, including satellite links and
dedicated networks for first responders, enable priority call portable base stations, are essential to maintain connectivity
routing (PCR), to ensure uninterrupted connectivity during
when primary infrastructure fails [3]. Cyclones can cause
the critical hours after a cyclone disaster. Telecom severe damage to telecom infrastructure, including toppling
companies should also deploy temporary network solutions,
of cell towers, destruction of fiber optic cables, and flooding
such as mobile cell sites and satellite communication of network equipment [4]. Power outages due to damaged
systems, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) & D2D (Device
electrical grids further compound the issue, often leading to
to Device) communication through B5G (Beyond 5G extended service disruptions [5].
Networks), dedicated 5G network slices etc., to provide
coverage in areas where the primary infrastructure has been 3.2 Backup power systems and fuel management
damaged.
Robust backup power systems are critical for maintaining
telecom infrastructure during cyclone disasters. Cyclones
frequently disrupt the primary power grid, causing
widespread outages that can last for days or even weeks. To

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