President at Advanced RF Technologies (ADRF), responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company globally.
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It is no question that our society is increasingly connectivity-reliant, especially over the last decade. So when natural disasters occur—whether a hurricane, tornado or earthquake—their fears are exacerbated by wireless network outages that cut off their ability to call or text loved ones to check on their safety.
However, the real danger of these downed networks is inhibiting communication among first responders who are tasked with coordinating efforts to protect these individuals. Thankfully, efforts from the FCC and mobile carriers to get wireless up and running faster than ever before ensure that this isn’t the problem it once was a decade ago.
A History Of Wireless Network Resiliency
The first real coordinated effort around wireless disaster response was the Wireless Resiliency Cooperative Framework, established in 2016. The signatories of this voluntary framework included the four major mobile carriers: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint (prior to T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint), the CTIA and a handful of other network providers. They pledged to work together, and with local governments and key stakeholders, to iron out efficient processes in advance related to permitting, travel restrictions, credentialing, zoning and communication protocols. That way, the issues didn’t arise during the disaster when emotions were running high and time quite literally could mean life or death. This was certainly helpful, but again, they were best practices and not mandated activities holding every mobile provider accountable.
This framework was updated recently in June of 2022 when the FCC introduced the Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative, partially reacting to the wave of major natural disasters from Hurricane Ida, worsening California wildfires and many others. It placed the aforementioned voluntary framework into code and requires every mobile carrier, even smaller operators, to participate. This isn’t a significant change for large urban areas, which are supported mainly by the original framework signatories, but is substantial for rural communities that already struggle with connectivity and oftentimes have more regional, resource-strapped wireless operators.
The initiative requires all operators to provide roaming to one another when a network is down, establish mutual aid agreements to share physical assets and consult with one another before and during emergencies. It also helps enhance municipal preparedness, increase consumer readiness and improve public awareness and stakeholder communications regarding restoration times. The mandate also more clearly outlines the minimum threat level of these disasters to trigger the necessary response, when before it was more ambiguous. Overall, it is a major step forward in reducing network downtimes during disasters.
How Mobile Network Operators Bridge The Connectivity Gap During Downtime
While these steps toward improving network resiliency will aid in reducing disruptions caused by natural disasters, there is still a window where first responders need communication in the meantime while repairs are being made. The technology behind these efforts has also improved. In the event of network disruption, mobile carriers use CROWs (cellular repeaters on wheels). CROWs involve attaching a repeater, which is typically used stationary for in-building wireless networks to amplify coverage, onto a vehicle and drive it into the territory where communication is required.
In 2017, AT&T took this a step further and developed its flying cell on wings (called Flying COW) to provide airborne LTE coverage during disaster recovery. Verizon released its own next-generation wireless disaster relief in 2021 called THOR (Tactical Humanitarian Operations Response). Similarly, T-Mobile has its own Cell on Light Trucks (COLTs) and Cell on Wheels (COWs) to provide emergency medical technicians (EMTs) coverage in the case of natural disasters and downed networks. However, these vehicles are very costly—sometimes in the seven figures—so it’s best for cities to continuously invest in more resilient infrastructure and try to mitigate the need for them.
Natural disasters across the globe are expected to increase 37% by 2025 and overwhelm existing National Emergency Telecommunications Plans (NETPs). It’s important that all stakeholders in the wireless communication industry continue to progress and innovate in the area of emergency relief to try and mitigate some of the future connectivity challenges that come with more frequent and severe attacks from mother nature.
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