New Delhi: In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, informed that the Government, through the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), has laid down environmental testing requirements for telecom equipment under the QM-333 standard. This ensures reliable functioning of such equipment under climatic stresses, particularly in disaster-prone regions. With regard to wind velocity resilience, he added that the Bureau of Indian Standards’ IS875 (Part 3) is referenced in TEC’s Generic Requirements for towers. This standard specifically addresses wind loads to be considered in the design of buildings, structures, and their components.
To ensure continuity of digital services during natural disasters, Telecom Service Providers deploy Cell on Wheel (COW) BTS, Install Leased Line circuits, undertake emergency restoration of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC), and ensure uninterrupted power supply through DG sets, battery backups, and solar-powered systems. Other measures include establishment of temporary sites, activation of Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) among TSPs, and priority call routing for Disaster Relief Agencies.
To ensure service continuity during disasters, telecom networks are built with redundant links and mesh connectivity. Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) arrangement among TSPs ensures continuity of services for all subscribers even in those cases where only one operator’s service is functioning.
As per the latest Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)-2020 for Telecommunication services for Responding to Disasters, a coordination framework is in place in the form of State Telecom Disaster Co-ordination Committee, which coordinates and monitors all disaster related activities. It consists of officials from DOT, State Disaster Management Agencies and Telecom Service Providers to review preparedness, ensure information sharing and coordination, and enable quick restoration of telecom services during emergencies.