Updated telecoms resilience guidance aims to reduce the risk of network outages, as Ofcom initiates a conversation about potential mobile power backup obligations
Ofcom seeks to mitigate the risk of network outages
On 8 December 2023, Ofcom announced proposals to update its resilience guidance for the UK’s telecoms sector, with the aim of providing operators with greater clarity on how they can reduce the risk of network outages. While consumers and businesses are increasingly reliant on digital services, recent climate events (e.g. Storm Ciarán) have led to more frequent floods and adverse weather conditions, which have caused disruption to networks – including affecting emergency services. Given the importance of access to robust and reliable connectivity, communications providers in the UK are required by law to actively identify, prepare for and mitigate any factors that might affect their networks’ availability, performance or functionality.
Three key measures to improve resilience
To ensure an appropriate level of resilience for telecoms services nationwide, Ofcom has set out the measures it expects operators to take in order to keep their networks running while also complying with new security duties that came into effect in October 2022. The regulator considers that these measures are flexible enough to apply to all types of operators offering telecoms networks and services in the UK, while allowing for continued technological evolution. Ofcom’s proposed guidance focuses on:
Ensuring that networks are designed to avoid, or reduce, single points of failure;
Making sure key infrastructure points have ‘automatic failover functionality’ built in, so that when equipment fails, traffic is immediately diverted to a functioning device or site that can maintain connectivity for end users; and
Setting out the processes, tools and training that should be considered to support the requirements on resilience.
Ofcom starts a dialogue around operators’ responsibilities
The consultation also includes a separate call for input on power backup for mobile radio access networks (RAN). These networks are dependent on electrical power to function, and outages can cause significant and extensive service disruption for customers. At this stage, Ofcom has not included measures relating to the provision of additional power backup at the mobile RAN, which varies between UK operators. The regulator has, however, initiated a conversation regarding the extent to which operators should be required to prepare for and mitigate the impact of power outages, and will be engaging with the Government and industry on this matter. Ofcom’s consultation and call for input are open until 1 March 2024, with findings to be incorporated into future resilience guidance and into its next steps for mobile power backup – both of which are due to be released in the summer.
Switzerland has proposed new obligations for backup power in mobile
Ofcom is one of few regulators within major European countries to have considered specific measures to address the effects of power outages. This may be due to the fact that the EC’s European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) does not contain any relevant provisions for backup power that would apply to all Member States. Nevertheless, the PTS in Sweden has required operators to ensure that base stations are equipped with a source of reserve power that is independent of the main electricity grid. In November 2023, Switzerland’s Federal Council proposed that operators Salt, Sunrise and Swisscom should install backup power in central locations and at base stations to ensure mobile communications during power outages of up to 72 hours or rolling blackouts over 14 consecutive days. While the three operators would be free to choose the means they use to achieve these ambitious requirements, they would also have to bear the cost – estimated at CHF150m (£136m) in total per year.
