Anacom wants specialised channels for authorities to remain accessible
Anyone who thought the power blackout of April 28 was a one-off may be surprised to hear national communications authority Anacom recommending an “improvement of the public warning system” and “diversification of 112 call routing” in future blackouts.
With the exact causes for the failure still unconfirmed (and a final report not programmed for well over a year), a report submitted by the regulator to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing points out that “during the blackout, access to the 112 emergency number was severely restricted on fixed networks, but remained operational in situations where at least one mobile network was available”, thus ensuring that calls were routed to the Public Security Service Point (PASP).
According to Anacom, “the prolonged power failure caused a cascade effect with a direct impact on the operation of mobile and fixed electronic communications networks”, which affected both “access to emergency services and communications between emergency services, authorities and civil protection agents”.
This situation led the Government to order a technical-strategic study for the urgent replacement of the Integrated Emergency and Security Network System of Portugal (SIRESP) once the country was fully back online.
In its recommendations, Anacom highlights the “assessment of the autonomy of emergency and backup power systems (batteries and generators) and the definition of minimum autonomy times for the various elements of the networks”, also pointing to the “use of energy systems based on renewable sources”, with the aim of “increasing the autonomy of cell sites in terms of backup power, reducing the need to install additional batteries”.
The authority also indicates the availability of “alternative means of communication for those involved and responsible for crisis management” (referring to channels like citizens band radios, which ended up being used by firefighters during the blackout).
Anacom also considers it important to “adopt mechanisms for accessing mobile network services in emergencies “, writes Lusa, recommending “a study for the adoption of a restricted set of SIM/eSIM cards to be used by authorities, civil protection forces and critical operators” and the direct connection of all mobile operators to the Public Security Service Points (PASP), as well as the “diversification of 112 call routing routes”.
Source material: LUSA
