Whenever heavy rain or storms occur, I often find myself jolted awake in the middle of the night or startled by emergency alerts on my phone. This typically happens when I’m in an area directly impacted by severe weather conditions like flooding or strong winds.
Natural disasters are a frequent occurrence in the Philippines, striking at least once or twice a month. As a whole, the Asia Pacific region is no stranger to these events. In fact, 29% of global natural disasters occurred in the region over the 30 years leading up to 2019, totalling 2,845 events. This highlights the urgent need for robust networks that can endure even the fiercest storms.
Why are early warnings important?
Early warning systems are the first line of defense. These emergency alerts are typically sent through a combination of networks such as cellular networks for wireless emergency alerts (WEAs) sent to mobile phones; broadcast networks for alerts sent to televisions and radios via the Emergency Alert System (EAS); and, of course, the Internet for alerts sent to computers and other Internet-connected devices.
These systems rely on a network of sensors, data centers, and communication infrastructure to detect impending disasters and send alerts to at-risk populations. But these networks themselves need to be resilient, able to weather the storm and deliver critical information when it’s needed most.
While the primary systems for delivering emergency alerts are designed to be resilient, they are not entirely immune to damage from disasters. While these alerts help us prepare for and achieve resilience during catastrophic events, what measures are taken to ensure the systems behind these alerts are equally resilient?
Building network resilience
Southeast Asia is among the regions most prone to natural disasters, particularly the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In recent years, Vietnam has experienced firsthand the impact of natural disasters on its telecommunications network, particularly during severe typhoons that can disrupt critical subsea cables. Subsea cables, while essential for global connectivity, can become vulnerable during extreme weather events.
The potential disruption of these cables can significantly impact Internet access and hinder emergency communications. To mitigate such risks, Vietnam is increasingly turning to diverse connectivity solutions, including satellite communication and terrestrial networks.
In a panel discussion on “Establishing Disaster-resilient Networks in Asia Pacific” at ITW Asia 2024, Binh Vu, representing the Vietnam Internet Association (VIA), emphasizes the multifaceted nature of network resilience. He highlights the importance of various factors, including cable support systems, cable tracing capabilities, and satellite communication infrastructure.
“In Vietnam, it’s really related to support cables, tracing cables, and satellite communication. Everything mentioned is relevant to the Vietnamese situation, especially considering Vietnam’s frequent typhoons and natural disasters. These are important considerations not only for Vietnamese telecom providers but also for the government,” he said.
Vietnam’s telecommunications industry is characterized by a strong collaboration between major players, including state-owned enterprises and private sector companies. This collaborative approach is essential for sharing resources, coordinating efforts, and ensuring a swift response to disasters. The major telecom providers in Vietnam are all state-owned or government-controlled. This strong government involvement facilitates collaboration and coordinated efforts.
For instance, during the severe typhoon last September, the government swiftly mobilized resources and coordinated the response among telecom providers, says Vu. This included sharing frequencies, towers, and even power resources. While this collaborative approach has been effective, the industry is still working on developing models to improve capacity sharing and disaster recovery efforts.
The importance of resilient infrastructure will only grow as climate change continues to intensify, and countries must work together to address these challenges and ensure the continuity of essential services.
Achieving resilience
Research from Gallup highlights Southeast Asia’s significant strides in disaster risk reduction, attributing its success to factors such as effective early warning systems, community engagement, and regional cooperation.
“Southeast Asia’s success in feelings of disaster preparedness can be linked to its high exposure to disasters, its relatively high levels of resilience – from individual people to overall society, and the region’s approach to disaster risk management more broadly,” they said.
If we look at Vietnam’s experiences and the broader Southeast Asian approach to disaster risk reduction, we can gain valuable insights into building resilient digital infrastructure. If people can demonstrate such resilience, does it imply that the networks supporting them can also achieve a similar level of resilience?
*** This article originally appeared in Issue 7 of W.Media’s Cloud & Datacenters magazine. Click the image below to read the magazine online or download your complimentary copy.
