Telecommunication Network Support

1. Telecommunication Network Support Emergency Telecommunication Management PCC 1619 Emergency Preparedness College Canada

2. Telecommunication Network Support • We must be able to supply the necessary mesures to: • Restaure telecommunication networks • Expand of the telecommunications network • Remplace telecommunication networks

3. The Restauration of Telecommunications is of Priority • Attention must be paid in terms of : • Maintaining good contacts for restauration purposes • The logistics of replacement parts and delivery • The remplacement • The rerouting • Using alternative means and backups

4. List of Necessary Ressources • Contact’s name, address and telephone number • Alternative address and number to reach those contacts • Available ressources • Location where ressources may be found • Availability and quantity of ressources

5. TelephoneThe First Priority • Telephone is the most used and relied upon method of communication • Restauration of telephone services is a priority • Know which telephone services are available • Local telephone compagnies should be contacted during planning to : • Establish personnal contact • Determine which sevices may be available during an emergency

6. TelephoneThe First Priority • In case of a telephone failure, determine and make arrangements for alternative methods of communication which meet emergency responder ’s needs

7. The Approach • Allow : • A detailed study of all telecommunication options • The identification of alternative resources through simulation exercises • The establishment of contacts for the alternative resources in order to obtain an effective network • Always remenber the news media

8. Logistics • Ex.: When your fortress has brunt and even your semaphore flags are gone, it will be very difficult to send a message by semaphore to request new flags • Emergency telecommunication planners must expect and be prepared for the worst • The telecommunications start with the transport layer • The transport may be physical • In other words, messengers can move as easily as the message.

9. Replacement • It is important to be prepared for a short term interruption • This planning is done by stockpiling of : • Replacement batteries for portable radios • Fuses • Chargers • Installation of back up radios • Spare antennas and replacement parts to ensure that radio operators are able to make minor repairs on the spot

10. Using Different Channels • The telecommunication plan must consider and identify all of the networks • Describe normal conditions as well • Secondary and tertiary alternatives • Must anticipate partitial or full network failure • Plan for an alternate Emergency Telecommunications Operation Center

11. Using Alternative means • Emergency personnel must be familiar with telecommunications. Prior to any emergency situation they should : • Be trained to use emergency telecommunication systems • Participate in emergency exercises on a regular basis • Where possible, the main emergency telecommunications system should be one that is used on a day to day basis.

12. Expansion of telecommunications network • The emergency plan should allow for the expansion of telecommunication capacity in order to respond to increased demand during an emergency • Increase the capacity by adding new systems • Expand existing network coverage and capacity as needed • Be able to recognize system deficiencies

13. Increasing the capacity • A municipal emergency telecommunication officer should : • Establish a link with the telephone service providers to obtain greater capacity as needed • Insure that, as required, we may add lines and control access to the system • Document the procedures required to implement the plan

14. Increasing the Capacity • Emergency planners should include as many radiocommunication systems as possible in their plan • Primarily by maintaining contacts with those who have radiocommunication resources and by including them it the municipality ’s telecommunication plan • Regional contact • Provincial, Federal and Municipal govermental telecommunication systems • Local contact • Taxi, truckers, towing

15. Increasing the Coverage • The easiest way to increase the coverage of the telecommunication system is to develop mutual aid arrangement with neighbouring municipalities • New technologies • Interoperability • Sharing of infrastructures

16. Necessity of Expansion • How do we recognise the need to increase telecommunication systems • Telecommunication systems are composed of much more that just equipment • If the radio operators do not understand the nertwork structure or if their needs are not considered, there is a high risk of failure • The telecommunications officier should assess the human factor and equipment limitations and determine when and how to increase systems

17. Planning for the Worst • We could at first make the assumption the messages will be hand delivered by couriers • As a next step, we could imagine how the message delivery could be more sophisticated • Gradually the emergency telecommunication planner will include new technology • This exercise will ensure that basic methods of telecommunications are considered first and more complex networks are added as needed

18. Substitution of Telecommunications • In some circumstances it may be necessary to replace the existing telecommunication system to : • Increase flexibility • Reduce the risk of equipment shortage

19. Conclusion • The differents alternatives must be clearly described in the telecommunications plan • A description of the system’s capacities and the procedures acquire equipment and parts must be included