Mobile operators have been pushing back on plans to ensure that their networks have emergency power in the event of extreme weather or cyber attacks after raising concerns about “prohibitive” costs.
Under new guidance being considered by Ofcom, BT, Vodafone, Virgin Media and O2 would be required to provide at least one hour of battery back-up power at all their mobile mast sites.
The regulator has said that tougher measures are needed to improve critical networks’ resilience against threats such as volatile weather and hackers.
Ofcom has cited extreme weather events such as storms and floods in the winter of 2021/2022, which left some communities without any means to communicate, including making calls to emergency services.
It has warned that the fallout from network outages is “likely to become more severe as society becomes increasingly dependent on them to function”.
Ofcom has also proposed to require MNOs to have four hours of back-up in broadband cabinets.
However, mobile network operators have aired their concerns about the new proposals, which are expected to cost the industry up to £1.8 billion.
In responses to Ofcom’s consultation, BT, Vodafone and VMO2 have all warned that it would be “disproportionate” for providers to bear the costs of the measures alone. Three UK said that the costs were “prohibitive”.
BT suggested that operators could be encouraged to invest more in their networks if Ofcom reduced its annual fees for mobile spectrum usage.
The MNOs also questioned the need for the measures, arguing that the impact of short-term power outages was minimal and could be largely mitigated by nearby sites.
They have also urged Ofcom to focus on better resilience in the grid.
Mobile firms currently provide battery back-up at sites, but the coverage and reserve power duration varies significantly across networks.
An Ofcom spokesman said, “We haven’t made any proposals at this stage – the costs we included in our call for input were part of an illustrative example only. “We’re considering the responses we’ve received, and we’ll work with industry and government to identify and pursue ways to address any potential issues.”