Why in the News?

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a global organization launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, recently released a report assessing how well Indian telecom networks can handle disasters.

What does the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure report state?

• Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment: The report conducted a comprehensive risk assessment across 0.77 million telecom towers, evaluating vulnerabilities to various disasters such as floods, cyclones, and earthquakes, which informs infrastructure planning and resilience strategies.
• Disaster Risk and Resilience Index: A new index was developed to assess the vulnerability of telecom infrastructure based on factors like disaster intensity and frequency, enabling targeted risk management efforts.
• Technical and Governance Enhancements: Recommendations include improving technical planning and design of telecom infrastructure to withstand disasters, as well as integrating disaster resilience into sectoral policies through risk-informed governance.
• Financial Instruments and Collaboration: The report advocates for establishing risk-sharing mechanisms to protect telecom operators financially, alongside promoting cross-sectoral collaboration for coordinated disaster response efforts.
• Last-Mile Connectivity and Digital Solutions: Emphasizing the importance of inclusive emergency responses, the report calls for enhancing last-mile connectivity and leveraging digital solutions to ensure rapid service restoration during crises.

Why do telecom networks face elevated risks in coastal regions in times of disaster and calamity?

• High Exposure to Cyclones & Storm Surges: Coastal areas frequently experience high-speed winds and storm surges, which can damage telecom towers and disrupt communication. Example: During Cyclone Amphan (2020), telecom networks in West Bengal and Odisha were severely impacted due to tower collapses and flooding.
• Vulnerability of Undersea Cable Landing Stations: Undersea cables connect India to global internet infrastructure, and their landing stations are located in coastal regions. Damage to these stations can cause widespread internet outages. Example: In 2023, a disruption in undersea cables near the Red Sea affected internet speeds in South Asia, including India.
• Power Failures Due to Flooding & Infrastructure Damage: Coastal disasters often lead to massive power outages, affecting telecom towers and network operating centres that rely on continuous electricity. Example: During Cyclone Tauktae (2021), heavy rainfall and flooding in Mumbai led to prolonged telecom disruptions due to power cuts and submerged backup generators.

Why are undersea cables better than overland cables?

• Higher Capacity: Undersea cables can carry vast amounts of data, with total capacities reaching terabits per second, significantly surpassing the capabilities of satellite communications, which typically offer much lower bandwidth (around 1 gigabit per second).
• Lower Latency: The signal transmission time is considerably shorter with undersea cables than with satellite links. For example, latency over a fibre submarine cable is around 120 milliseconds, while satellite communications can introduce delays of approximately 650 milliseconds due to the long distances signals must travel to and from space.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Laying undersea cables is generally more economical than deploying satellite systems for large-scale data transmission. The initial investment in submarine cables, while significant, is offset by their capacity and reliability, making them a more sustainable option for long-term infrastructure.
• Reliability and Stability: Undersea cables are less susceptible to environmental factors that can disrupt overland cables, such as weather conditions or physical damage from construction activities. Their placement on the seabed provides a level of protection against many potential hazards.
• Global Connectivity: Submarine cables are essential for connecting continents and regions that are separated by water. They facilitate international data traffic and play a critical role in global communications, making them indispensable for the functioning of the Internet and other communication networks.

Does power failure create major problems?

• Disrupts Communication During Emergencies: Telecom towers and network operating centres require continuous power to function. When electricity is cut off, mobile networks and internet services fail, hindering disaster response.
  • Example: During Cyclone Fani (2019), Odisha experienced massive power outages, causing mobile networks to shut down, and delaying rescue operations.
• Limits Functionality of Backup Systems: Most telecom towers rely on battery or diesel generators, but these backups last only a few hours. If the fuel supply is disrupted, networks remain down for extended periods.
  • Example: In the Assam floods (2022), fuel shortages prevented telecom towers from running generators, prolonging communication blackouts.
• Affects Undersea & Land-based Network Infrastructure: Power failures at undersea cable landing stations and data centres can cause large-scale internet outages, affecting national and global connectivity.
  • Example: A power failure at a Chennai cable landing station in 2021 disrupted international internet traffic.

Way forward: 

• Strengthening Resilient Power Solutions: Deploy renewable energy sources like solar-powered telecom towers and battery storage systems to ensure uninterrupted network operations during disasters.
• Enhancing Risk-Informed Governance: Integrate disaster resilience planning into telecom policies, mandate robust backup power solutions, and establish coordinated emergency response frameworks for rapid service restoration.

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