Mozambique’s Telecom Infrastructure Hit by Floods, INCM Deploys Emergency Satellite Links
According to information reported by operators, there are currently 269 telecommunications base stations out of service nationwide, affecting the services of operators TMCEL, Vodacom and Movitel.
Following the activation of the Red Alert by the Government of Mozambique, due to the current rainy and cyclonic season characterised by intense and persistent rainfall, the Communications Regulatory Authority – INCM has been permanently monitoring the impact of these phenomena on the national telecommunications infrastructure.
According to information reported by operators, there are currently 269 telecommunications base stations out of service nationwide, affecting the services of operators TMCEL, Vodacom and Movitel. Gaza Province is the most affected, with interruptions in base stations and fiber optic connections, resulting mainly in cuts in the electricity supply, damage to transmission infrastructure and difficulties in accessing repair and maintenance work.
In order to mitigate the impact of the limitations on conventional infrastructures, the INCM, in coordination with institutional partners, installed and activated satellite communication solutions in emergency operational centres, provincial delegations of the National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (INGD) and accommodation centres, ensuring minimum connectivity conditions. Satellite telephones were also made available to support communications in the context of rescue and institutional coordination actions.
And, in order to support the subscribers of the Telecommunications Services, severely affected by the rains, the INCM coordinated with the operators of mobile phone services to provide a free package containing minutes of calls, megabites and SMS.
At the same time, telecommunications operators implemented technical response measures, including the mobilization of repair and maintenance teams, the management of energy reserves and the reinforcement of the redundancy of transmission systems in infrastructures considered critical.
As part of the implementation of the contingency plan for the rainy season, the INCM has provided support to the INGD, including the dissemination of early warning messages through Big Data and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, as well as coordination with mobile operators for the dissemination of alerts addressed to subscribers in flood-prone areas. Technical teams are also mobilized to support operations on the ground, with emphasis on the provinces of Gaza and Maputo.
The Communications Regulatory Authority (INCM) continues to monitor the evolution of the situation, in close coordination with the competent authorities and operators in the sector, ensuring regular updating of information on the status of telecommunications infrastructures and ongoing actions, in accordance with the national legal framework applicable to disaster management and the guiding principles of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative.
