The International Telecommunication Unio (ITU) has launched guidelines for countries developing national emergency telecom plans. The ITU said the covid-19 oubreak shows how important it is to make sure telecom networks and services continue working before, during and after a disaster. The organisation advocates the use of mock exercises, from tabletop, talk-through and walk-through exercises to full-scale drills, and said it has developed a Tabletop Emergency Simulation Guide, together with the Global Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC), a global network of organisations that work together to provide shared communications services in humanitarian emergencies.
"When disaster strikes there is no time to think about what to do and how to organize response. It is crucial that all stakeholders are prepared beforehand and ready to take action," the ITU said. The guide provides tools to test and refine national emergency telecommunication plans using simulated scenarios.
The priority is to make communication available at all phases, from disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery by promoting coordination and engagement across all levels of government, humanitarian agencies, service providers and communities at risk. The document also highlights the major risk possibilities during a disaster, provide justification for the funding of vital equipment and personnel in an emergency, and show the need to keep national authorities prepared.
"Now more than ever, the implementation of comprehensive national emergency telecommunication plans can ensure there is effective and timely sharing of information across all levels of government, within affected communities and among humanitarian agencies to prioritize response efforts and to save lives," the ITU said.
