Answer

Telecommunication networks are vital for disaster management, enabling real-time coordination during emergencies. Disasters caused over $200 billion in economic losses globally in 2023, with communication failures exacerbating rescue efforts. In India, Cyclone Fani (2019) caused extensive damage to telecommunications infrastructure in Puri, Bhubaneswar, and other areas of Odisha, highlighting the sector’s vulnerability to natural calamities.

Role of Telecommunication Networks in Disaster Management

• Facilitating Emergency Response: Telecom networks enable rapid communication between disaster management authorities, local municipalities, and rescue teams, ensuring swift coordination in relief efforts.
  For example: During the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, mobile networks helped coordinate rescue missions, allowing the Indian Army and NDRF to evacuate over 100,000 people from disaster-affected regions.
• Disseminating Public Alerts: Telecom infrastructure supports early warning systems, sending SMS alerts and automated calls about cyclones, tsunamis, and earthquakes, helping communities prepare in advance.
  For example: Before Cyclone Fani (2019) hit Odisha, telecom alerts were sent to millions, contributing to the timely evacuation of over 1.2 million people, significantly reducing casualties.
• Ensuring Medical Assistance: Mobile networks assist in telemedicine and emergency medical coordination, allowing doctors and health workers to guide first responders and affected individuals remotely.
  For example: During the COVID-19 pandemic, telecom services facilitated teleconsultations for patients, reducing the burden on hospitals and ensuring timely medical advice.
• Supporting Relief Fund Transfers: Mobile banking and digital payment systems enable the government and NGOs to quickly distribute financial aid to disaster victims without physical cash dependency.
  For example: After the 2015 Nepal earthquake, digital platforms like eSewa and IME Pay allowed affected people to receive relief funds and buy essentials even when banks were closed.
• Maintaining Social Order: Communication networks help prevent panic and misinformation by enabling authorities to provide accurate updates, reassuring the public and preventing unnecessary chaos.
  For example: During the Chennai floods (2015), the Indian government partnered with telecom operators to provide free SMS and call services, ensuring people received official rescue updates.

Vulnerabilities of Telecommunication Networks During Natural Calamities

• Power Failures Disrupt Operations: Telecom towers and network operating centers rely on electricity, and prolonged power outages can make them non-functional, leading to communication breakdowns.
  For example: After Cyclone Amphan (2020) in West Bengal, power failures left over 85% of telecom towers in affected districts non-operational for several days, delaying relief coordination.
• Inadequate Backup Fuel and Batteries: Telecom towers depend on diesel generators and battery backups, but limited fuel supply during disasters can lead to network outages.
• Damage to Overhead Cables: Overland cables are highly exposed to strong winds, falling trees, and debris, leading to severed connections that disrupt services during disasters.
  For example: The 2018 Kerala floods caused widespread damage to overhead fiber cables, leading to major internet blackouts and hindering disaster response efforts.
• Vulnerability of Undersea Cables: Coastal disasters pose elevated risks to undersea cable landing stations, causing internet disruptions as telecom operators struggle to reroute data traffic.
  For example: The 2023 Taiwan earthquake damaged undersea cables, leading to internet slowdowns across Southeast Asia, affecting rescue operations and financial transactions.
• Insufficient Disaster-Resistant Infrastructure: Many cell towers are not designed to withstand extreme wind speeds, floods, or earthquakes, leading to structural collapses.

Measures to Enhance Telecom Infrastructure Resilience

• Strengthening Power Backup Systems: Ensuring telecom towers have higher-capacity batteries and diesel reserves can minimize outages caused by power failures during disasters.
  For example: In Mumbai, where power cuts are rare, telecom towers are equipped with higher battery backup, allowing uninterrupted connectivity even during monsoons and floods.
• Deploying More Underground Cables: Expanding underground fiber optic networks instead of overland cables can protect telecom infrastructure from cyclones, landslides, and falling debris.
  For example: Japan’s earthquake-resistant telecom network relies heavily on underground cables, reducing disruptions during frequent seismic activities.
• Reinforcing Cell Towers Against Extreme Weather: Constructing telecom towers with wind-resistant designs and stronger foundations can help them withstand cyclones and earthquakes.
  For example: After Cyclone Phailin (2013), Odisha mandated stronger telecom tower structures, reducing tower collapses in subsequent cyclones like Fani (2019).
• Ensuring Quick Restoration Strategies: Governments and telecom operators should stockpile spare parts and deploy emergency repair teams to restore connectivity faster after disasters.
  For example: The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a disaster recovery plan, ensuring that telecom services resume quickly after hurricanes like Katrina (2005).
• Implementing Parametric Insurance for Telecom Operators: Providing insurance coverage for disaster-related damages can encourage telecom firms to invest in disaster-proofing infrastructure.
  For example: In New Zealand, parametric insurance supports telecom companies, enabling them to rapidly restore services after natural calamities like earthquakes and storms.

A disaster-resilient telecom network is not a choice but a necessity. Strengthening infrastructure with AI-driven early warning systems, satellite-based communication, and decentralized networks can ensure uninterrupted connectivity. Public-private collaboration, regulatory reforms, and rapid deployment of emergency communication units will fortify response mechanisms. A future-ready, adaptive telecom ecosystem can be the backbone of disaster resilience.

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