By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) has commissioned model National Emergency
Telecommunication Plans (NETPs) for member states in Southern and West Africa
to strengthen countries’ preparedness and response to disasters.
The plans are designed to
ensure that communication networks and services remain available during
emergencies, when damage to critical infrastructure can disrupt coordination
among governments, emergency responders, telecommunications operators and humanitarian
organisations.
Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava,
Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, said the model plans
provide a framework for coordinated action when disasters affect communication
infrastructure.
The NETPs establish roles
and responsibilities for different stakeholders involved in emergency response,
helping to improve coordination between public authorities, emergency agencies,
telecommunications operators and other partners.
The plans also provide a
regulatory framework for measures such as emergency roaming, which can allow
users to connect to available mobile networks during emergencies when their
primary network is unavailable.
They also support the
deployment of alternative communication technologies, including satellite
terminals, to help restore connectivity when conventional telecommunications
infrastructure is damaged or disrupted.
Beyond emergency response,
the plans cover the full disaster management cycle, including preparedness,
early warning, response, infrastructure restoration and recovery.
The ITU said NETPs can also
support the deployment of early warning systems that enable authorities to
issue timely alerts to communities facing potential disasters.
Zavazava thanked member
states in the two regions for contributing to the development of the model
plans, which are intended to help countries strengthen their national emergency
communications frameworks.
The plans are also aligned
with international disaster preparedness frameworks, including the United
Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative, reflecting the need for coordinated
approaches to emergency communications as disasters increasingly cross national
boundaries.
The ITU said effective
emergency telecommunications planning remains critical to protecting lives and
ensuring that communication systems continue to function when communities need
them most.
