**Summary:**
The Ministry of Communications has implemented policies to enhance the climate resilience of digital telecom infrastructure in disaster-prone regions. Key measures include mandating environmental testing requirements for telecom equipment under the QM333 standard and referencing BIS standard IS875 Part 3 for wind load considerations in tower design. Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) are required to deploy strategies for service continuity during natural disasters, such as Cell on Wheel (COW) BTS deployment, leased line circuits, emergency restoration of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC), and ensuring uninterrupted power supply via DG sets, battery backups, and solar-powered systems. Additional measures involve establishing temporary sites, activating Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) among TSPs, and prioritizing call routing for Disaster Relief Agencies. Redundant links and mesh connectivity are incorporated in network design to ensure service continuity. A coordination framework, the State Telecom Disaster Coordination Committee, consisting of officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DOT), State Disaster Management Agencies, and TSPs, is in place to review preparedness, ensure information sharing and coordination, and enable quick restoration of telecom services during emergencies, as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 2020. This information was provided by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for telecommunications.
Telecommunication Engineering Centre TEC: An Indian government technical body specifying standards for telecom equipment.
QM333 standard: Environmental testing requirements standard for telecom equipment specified by TEC.
BIS standard IS875Part 3: An Indian Standard related to wind loads for designing buildings, structures, and components.
Telecom Service Providers: Companies that provide telecommunication services.
Optical Fiber Cable OFC: A type of cable used in telecommunications to transmit data as light pulses.
IntraCircle Roaming ICR: Arrangement among TSPs to ensure continuity of services for all subscribers.
State Telecom Disaster Coordination Committee: A committee consisting of officials from DOT, State Disaster Management Agencies and Telecom Service Providers to coordinate and monitor disaster related activities.
Ministry of Communications
Climate Resilience of Digital Telecom Infrastructure
in Disaster-Prone Regions
Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 5:10PM by PIB Delhi
The Government, through the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), has specified environmental
testing requirements for telecom equipment under the QM-333 standard, which ensures reliable operation
under climatic stresses in disaster-prone regions. Further, with respect to wind velocity withstanding capacity,
BIS standard IS875(Part 3) is referred in TEC Generic Requirements of towers. This standard (part 3) deals
with wind loads to be considered when designing buildings, structures and components thereof.
To ensure continuity of digital services during natural disasters, Telecom Service Providers deploy Cell on
Wheel (COW) BTS, Install Leased Line circuits, undertake emergency restoration of Optical Fiber Cable
(OFC), and ensure uninterrupted power supply through DG sets, battery backups, and solar-powered systems.
Other measures include establishment of temporary sites, activation of Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) among
TSPs, and priority call routing for Disaster Relief Agencies.
To ensure service continuity during disasters, telecom networks are built with redundant links and mesh
connectivity. Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) arrangement among TSPs ensures continuity of services for all
subscribers even in those cases where only one operator’s service is functioning.
As per the latest Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)-2020 for Telecommunication services for Responding
to Disasters, a coordination framework is in place in the form of State Telecom Disaster Co-ordination
Committee, which coordinates and monitors all disaster related activities. It consists of officials from DOT,
State Disaster Management Agencies and Telecom Service Providers to review preparedness, ensure
information sharing and coordination, and enable quick restoration of telecom services during emergencies.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr.
Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
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Samrat / Allen
(Release ID: 2159193)