Key Details
The ITU guide provides a regulatory blueprint for ensuring mobile connectivity during disasters through pre-arranged emergency roaming agreements between telecom operators.
Area | Recommendation | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
Emergency roaming | Users temporarily connect to another operator’s network during outages | Maintains communication when a network fails |
Services supported | Voice, SMS, mobile data and emergency calls | Preserves access to essential communication services |
Regulatory framework | Operators should establish agreements before disasters occur | Enables rapid activation during emergencies |
Consumer protection | No additional charges for subscribers using emergency roaming | Ensures equitable access during crises |
Network management | Emergency and disaster-response traffic should receive priority | Supports rescue operations and public safety |
Operational readiness | Annual testing, reporting and post-event reviews | Improves preparedness and system reliability |
The Gist: Keeping People Connected Should Be Part of Disaster Preparedness
The ITU publication, A guide to developing a national emergency roaming framework, argues that mobile connectivity should be treated as critical disaster-response infrastructure, alongside electricity, transport and emergency services. Rather than waiting until disasters disrupt communications, countries should establish national emergency roaming frameworks that allow subscribers to automatically connect to another available mobile network whenever their own operator’s network becomes unavailable.
The objective is to ensure that citizens, emergency responders and public authorities remain connected when communication is most critical.
Emergency Roaming Can Reduce Communication Failures During Crises
Natural disasters, cyberattacks, power failures and infrastructure damage can disable mobile networks precisely when demand for communication is highest.
The guide recommends that operators enter into pre-agreed emergency roaming arrangements so that affected subscribers can continue accessing voice calls, SMS, mobile data and emergency services through another operator’s network, subject to available capacity. It also recommends extending these protections to customers of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) on a non-discriminatory basis.
Preparedness Depends on Clear Rules Before Emergencies Occur
The ITU emphasises that emergency roaming requires more than technical compatibility—it also depends on a well-defined regulatory framework.
Key recommendations include:
operators should negotiate emergency roaming agreements in advance;
emergency roaming should be activated rapidly when network failures occur;
host networks should prioritise emergency communications while protecting service quality for existing users;
subscribers should not incur additional charges during emergency roaming;
operators should conduct regular testing across different network technologies; and
regulators should require post-event reporting to improve future preparedness.
Examples from Canada, Chile, Japan and the United States demonstrate that emergency roaming can be integrated into national disaster-management systems through clear regulatory rules and coordinated industry action.
The Framework Has Growing Relevance for India
Although the guide does not examine India specifically, its recommendations are increasingly relevant as the country experiences more frequent floods, cyclones, landslides, earthquakes and other climate-related emergencies.
A national emergency roaming framework could strengthen India’s disaster-response architecture by enabling DoT, TRAI, NDMA and telecom operators to maintain mobile connectivity during network outages. Beyond emergency calls, uninterrupted connectivity would support disaster alerts, digital payments, relief distribution, emergency coordination and access to essential public services.
What is Emergency Roaming?
Emergency roaming is a temporary arrangement that allows mobile subscribers to connect to another operator’s network when their own network becomes unavailable during a disaster or major service disruption. Unlike commercial roaming, it is activated solely to preserve essential communications until normal services are restored.
Policy Relevance
Supports telecom resilience by encouraging pre-agreed emergency roaming arrangements between operators before disasters occur.
Strengthens India’s disaster-management framework by recognising mobile connectivity as essential public infrastructure for emergency response, rescue operations and relief coordination.
Provides a potential regulatory roadmap for DoT and TRAI to establish activation protocols, traffic prioritisation rules, consumer protections and operator responsibilities during major network outages.
Enhances continuity of digital public services, ensuring citizens can continue accessing emergency alerts, digital payments, healthcare information and government services even when one operator’s network is disrupted.
Encourages greater coordination between telecom operators and disaster-management agencies, including regular testing and preparedness exercises.
Aligns telecom regulation with India’s growing climate-resilience agenda, where maintaining communications is becoming increasingly important during extreme weather events.
Follow the Full Report Here: A guide to developing a national emergency roaming framework