DoT and CDRI Unveil Roadmap to Strengthen India’s Telecom Resilience

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) , in collaboration with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) , today launched a comprehensive report on Disaster Risk and Resilience Assessment Framework (DRRAF) , marking a major step towards strengthening India’s telecom sector against disasters. The report is part of a comprehensive study on National and Sub-national Disaster Risk & Resilience Assessment for the Telecommunication Sector by CDRI. The study was conducted across five states—Assam, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat—focusing on disaster risks and resilience strategies specific to the telecom sector. DoT facilitated the necessary coordination with State Governments, Telecom Service Providers, and Infrastructure Providers to arrange the data required for the study. In his message in the inaugural session, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom) & Chairman, Digital Communications Commission (DCC) , emphasized that building telecom resilience is a national priority . He reiterated DoT’s commitment for ensuring seamless connectivity prior, during, and after disasters , aligning with the UN’s ‘ Early Warning For All by 2027 ’ initiative. He called for coordinated action from Government agencies, telecom operators, and disaster management bodies to ensure India’s telecom infrastructure remains robust in the face of natural calamities. Addressing the impact and potential of the study and framework, CDRI Director General Amit Prothi emphasized the telecom sector’s significant contribution to India’s GDP , highlighting that resilient telecom networks are critical for economic growth, disaster response, and uninterrupted connectivity . He further stated that the CDRI’s study offers a scalable model, actionable insights, and global best practices for resilient communication services. Recalling his experience with disasters, Mr. Manish Sinha, Member (F), DoT , emphasized the importance of telecom network post disasters. He further highlighted that technology has improved further. He further highlighted the outcomes of the study lays out a roadmap for minimizing service disruptions, strengthening infrastructure, and improving emergency response mechanisms. Emphasizing the importance of inter-ministerial coordination, Shri Sanjay Agrawal, DDG (DM), DoT, highlighted the invaluable support of all LSAs, TSPs, Infrastructure Providers, and Industry Associations (DIPA, COAI, IBF), along with government agencies such as NDMA and SDMAs. He added that their valuable insights and on-ground experiences have significantly enriched this study, ensuring that the recommendations are not only technically sound but also practically implementable. The DoT has been proactively implementing several strategic initiatives to enhance disaster preparedness and telecom resilience, including: · Real-time coordination with LSAs, State Governments, and telecom operators for rapid disaster response. · Nationwide implementation of an indigenous Cell Broadcast System for emergency alerts. · Deployment of Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) networks in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs. · S trengthening regulatory support for telecom operators to ensure quick restoration of services. · Promoting satellite-based communication and High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) to maintain connectivity in disaster-hit regions. The study conducted a multi-hazard risk assessment across 0.77 million telecom towers , mapping risks from floods, cyclones, earthquakes, and other disasters . A disaster risk and resilience index has been developed to assess the vulnerability of telecom infrastructure based on disaster intensity, frequency, and impact. The Report has outlined a set of key recommendations aimed at strengthening the sector's resilience and preparedness in the face of disasters. These recommendations emphasize a multi-pronged approach, combining technical enhancements, governance reforms, financial investments, and stakeholder collaboration. The key strategic recommendations include: These recommendations aim to fortify the telecom sector’s ability to withstand disasters, ensuring seamless connectivity and rapid restoration of services. With DoT’s leadership and multi-stakeholder engagement, the adoption of this roadmap will empower India’s telecom sector to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from disasters , ensuring uninterrupted communication even in times of crisis. With this risk and resilience study and framework, CDRI aims to mainstream resilience principles in telecom infrastructure at the policy and planning level, and promote cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination, both in India and globally. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) , an international organization launched by the Prime Minister of India , is a global partnership of 49 members dedicated to climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure solutions . It is a partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and academia. CDRI advances the cause of climate and disaster resilient infrastructure (DRI). Follow DoT Handles for more: – X – https://x.com/DoT_India Insta – https://www.instagram.com/department_of_telecom?igsh=MXUxbHFjd3llZTU0YQ == Fb – https://www.facebook.com/DoTIndia YT- https://www.youtube.com/@departmentoftelecom ] Follow CDRI Handles here: X- https://x.com/cdri_world LI – https://company/coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure **** Samrat/Allen The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) , in collaboration with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) , today launched a comprehensive report on Disaster Risk and Resilience Assessment Framework (DRRAF) , marking a major step towards strengthening India’s telecom sector against disasters. The report is part of a comprehensive study on National and Sub-national Disaster Risk & Resilience Assessment for the Telecommunication Sector by CDRI. The study was conducted across five states—Assam, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat—focusing on disaster risks and resilience strategies specific to the telecom sector. DoT facilitated the necessary coordination with State Governments, Telecom Service Providers, and Infrastructure Providers to arrange the data required for the study. In his message in the inaugural session, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom) & Chairman, Digital Communications Commission (DCC) , emphasized that building telecom resilience is a national priority . He reiterated DoT’s commitment for ensuring seamless connectivity prior, during, and after disasters , aligning with the UN’s ‘ Early Warning For All by 2027 ’ initiative. He called for coordinated action from Government agencies, telecom operators, and disaster management bodies to ensure India’s telecom infrastructure remains robust in the face of natural calamities. Addressing the impact and potential of the study and framework, CDRI Director General Amit Prothi emphasized the telecom sector’s significant contribution to India’s GDP , highlighting that resilient telecom networks are critical for economic growth, disaster response, and uninterrupted connectivity . He further stated that the CDRI’s study offers a scalable model, actionable insights, and global best practices for resilient communication services. Recalling his experience with disasters, Mr. Manish Sinha, Member (F), DoT , emphasized the importance of telecom network post disasters. He further highlighted that technology has improved further. He further highlighted the outcomes of the study lays out a roadmap for minimizing service disruptions, strengthening infrastructure, and improving emergency response mechanisms. Emphasizing the importance of inter-ministerial coordination, Shri Sanjay Agrawal, DDG (DM), DoT, highlighted the invaluable support of all LSAs, TSPs, Infrastructure Providers, and Industry Associations (DIPA, COAI, IBF), along with government agencies such as NDMA and SDMAs. He added that their valuable insights and on-ground experiences have significantly enriched this study, ensuring that the recommendations are not only technically sound but also practically implementable. The DoT has been proactively implementing several strategic initiatives to enhance disaster preparedness and telecom resilience, including: · Real-time coordination with LSAs, State Governments, and telecom operators for rapid disaster response. · Nationwide implementation of an indigenous Cell Broadcast System for emergency alerts. · Deployment of Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) networks in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs. · S trengthening regulatory support for telecom operators to ensure quick restoration of services. · Promoting satellite-based communication and High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) to maintain connectivity in disaster-hit regions. The study conducted a multi-hazard risk assessment across 0.77 million telecom towers , mapping risks from floods, cyclones, earthquakes, and other disasters . A disaster risk and resilience index has been developed to assess the vulnerability of telecom infrastructure based on disaster intensity, frequency, and impact. The Report has outlined a set of key recommendations aimed at strengthening the sector's resilience and preparedness in the face of disasters. These recommendations emphasize a multi-pronged approach, combining technical enhancements, governance reforms, financial investments, and stakeholder collaboration. The key strategic recommendations include: These recommendations aim to fortify the telecom sector’s ability to withstand disasters, ensuring seamless connectivity and rapid restoration of services. With DoT’s leadership and multi-stakeholder engagement, the adoption of this roadmap will empower India’s telecom sector to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from disasters , ensuring uninterrupted communication even in times of crisis. With this risk and resilience study and framework, CDRI aims to mainstream resilience principles in telecom infrastructure at the policy and planning level, and promote cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination, both in India and globally. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) , an international organization launched by the Prime Minister of India , is a global partnership of 49 members dedicated to climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure solutions . It is a partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and academia. CDRI advances the cause of climate and disaster resilient infrastructure (DRI). Follow DoT Handles for more: – X – https://x.com/DoT_India Insta – https://www.instagram.com/department_of_telecom?igsh=MXUxbHFjd3llZTU0YQ == Fb – https://www.facebook.com/DoTIndia YT- https://www.youtube.com/@departmentoftelecom ] Follow CDRI Handles here: X- https://x.com/cdri_world LI – https://company/coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure **** Samrat/Allen