Emergency communication
In the networked world, virtually every aspect of daily life relies on the supply of energy. A wide-scale power failure can be catastrophic. That’s why a reliable emergency communication solution is essential for businesses and crisis teams.
During wide-scale power failures, conventional means of communication, such as phones, the Internet and mobile networks, may be out of action. At times like these, it is essential to have other ways of communicating. A resilient emergency communication solution keeps the lines of communication open between crisis teams, public authorities, emergency services and other players important for the functioning of an economy and allows them to take coordinated action. Blackouts without communication facilities would be disastrous for companies, such as banks, insurance companies, media organisations and providers in the care and healthcare sectors. Logistics firms may also be unable to transport and distribute their goods. The well-established processes between warehouses, suppliers, retailers and other stakeholders are at risk of grinding to a halt, with consequences for the entire supply chain that are difficult to predict and could have implications for public safety.
During wide-scale power failures, crisis teams rely on being able to communicate within and outside their own organisation. With a reliable emergency communication solution, individual locations can communicate with each other and other important players can also be integrated. Satellite telephones are a well-known solution, but their purchase and operating costs are substantial, and transmitting large volumes of data is expensive. In particular, there is no guarantee that the service will be available when required if everyone attempts to access it at the same time.
Moreover, anyone who has ever used a satellite telephone will know that they
are not very intuitive to operate and the voice quality is often greatly impaired. Other factors, such as the weather, may also negatively impact the connection. This leaves many crisis teams, public authorities and businesses still looking for a solution that is reliable, guaranteed in an emergency, independent from foreign providers (such as satellite operators) and easy to use, which can also be integrated into daily processes.
Swisscom Broadcast is operating and testing the first prototypes of an emergency communication solution based on its highly resilient radio-relay and fibre-optic network that runs across 50 high-altitude sites in Switzerland. This network was originally designed to broadcast radio and television programmes and has operated with maximum availability for many years. However, its potential goes far beyond that because digitisation and other advances in technology have now freed up capacity for additional communication services.
The extremely durable network is independent of public power and communication networks. All 50 high-altitude sites are equipped with emergency power generators that can run autonomously for at least ten days. The high-availability, redundant network infrastructure also guarantees a continuous connection. If one section is interrupted, data traffic is automatically rerouted to other sections. Thanks to these benefits, Swisscom Broadcast’s emergency communication network is an exciting option for exceptional situations. Swisscom Broadcast’s customers have the opportunity to connect their sites to Swisscom Broadcast’s high-altitude network and receive services such as telephony as well as ensuring reliable data transmission. The emergency communication network can be accessed using fixed-network telephones, a router or walkie talkies.
The recent threat of impending power shortages has made it abundantly clear that governments, businesses and organisations need to develop contingency plans that include an effective emergency communications solution. However, a robust Plan B is essential not only because of the real risk of power shortages, but also due to the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, cyberattacks and political power-plays. Investing in robust, independent infrastructure and technology is a way of strengthening society’s resilience to the challenges posed by wide-scale power failures and better preparing us for the unpredictability ahead.