Japan’s Telecommunications Carriers Team Up to Accelerate Disaster Recovery

Almost a year has passed since a powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula, located in Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture. The natural disaster caused severe damage to local infrastructure and homes in the area, and SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) and other telecommunications carriers struggled to quickly restore communication networks in unforgiving terrain and weather conditions.

With the January 1 anniversary of the earthquake approaching, on December 18, 2024, Japan's major telecommunications companies - the NTT Group (representing Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation, NTT DOCOMO, Inc. and NTT Communications Corporation), KDDI Corporation, SoftBank Corp. and Rakuten Mobile, Inc. - held a joint press conference to announce a new cooperative framework aimed at ensuring the rapid restoration of communication networks in the event of large-scale disasters.

Reflecting on the year following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake

In the opening presentation, the NTT Group representative explained that in the aftermath of the earthquake, mobile and fixed-line networks were disrupted due to landslides, collapsed utility poles, road obstructions and tsunami-related damage. The eight telecommunications companies used different innovative solutions to restore communication services quickly, including building alternative transmission routes, as well as utilizing satellite-based communications, drone base stations, and ship-mounted base stations.

Transport disruptions due to widespread road damage also hindered recovery logistics. On-site work was limited to a few hours per day, necessitating the set up of camps and temporary fueling stations, which were shared among telecommunications providers to streamline recovery efforts.

In areas inaccessible for extended periods, such as those requiring prolonged road repairs, telecommunications operators collaborated to deploy ships equipped with base stations to transmit wireless signals to shore, enabling a quick restoration of mobile connectivity.

A new framework to speed up disaster recovery

On behalf of the participating eight companies, the NTT Group representative explained a new cooperative framework to accelerate network restoration in the event of large-scale disasters. Building on the lessons learned from the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the eight telecommunications companies began collaborating under this framework from December 1, 2024. The initiative focuses on sharing assets, jointly utilizing ships and strengthening coordination between mobile and fixed-line networks.

For example, in the event of a disaster, the framework enables the carriers to jointly use each other's assets, such as business facilities, accommodation, storage sites and refueling stations. By mutually supporting each other, the companies aim to restore communication network connectivity quickly in affected areas.

The NTT Group and KDDI developed systems using their cable-laying ships to transport relief supplies (such as portable base stations, generators, fuel, mobile phones, water and food supplies) to disaster-affected areas and deploy ship-based base stations. In the event of a disaster, SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile will now be able to set up their base stations on ships owned by the NTT Group and KDDI to further accelerate the restoration of mobile services to coastal areas in disaster-affected regions.

The other key point of the framework is stronger collaboration between mobile and fixed-line operators for disaster relief. Mobile and fixed-line providers will share crucial information needed to assess damage and restore networks. For example, they will identify issues in fixed-line networks that disrupt networks at critical locations like municipal facilities and hospitals. Furthermore, by speeding up the restoration of mobile base station backhaul links, the companies will work to restore mobile networks in disaster-affected areas at much faster speeds.

Under the newly established cooperative framework, the eight companies plan to conduct joint training exercises that involve the shared use of fueling stations and ships to reinforce their coordination capabilities.

Different companies with a shared goal: rapid network recovery

Reflecting on the lessons from the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the press conference featured insights from each telecommunications operator on recovery efforts and their plans for the future. SoftBank's representative, Atsushi Sugimoto, Director of SoftBank's Disaster Risk Management Office, outlined initiatives to enhance disaster resilience and improve the technical skills of workers.

SoftBank has conducted various training programs, including testing tethered drone relay systems, establishing temporary fueling stations, and deploying portable generators. To address prolonged power outages, the company has introduced "intelligent tanks," which operate approximately six times longer than traditional generators, and hybrid LPG generators, which extend operational time by about 12 times. Additionally, Sugimoto said SoftBank is preparing approximately 500 Starlink units, adding to its existing inventory of 293 portable satellite antennas. A newly developed system combining Starlink with compact radios has also been deployed across facilities nationwide to support evacuation centers.

During the Q&A session, a member of the press asked if there are any potential challenges in balancing resources among the companies. The NTT Group representative responded, "Many people in disaster-hit areas feel anxious due to a lack of communication services. Our collective goal is to alleviate that anxiety as quickly as possible and help restore normalcy. This shared determination has united us in this collaborative agreement." He added, "Each company is openly sharing its assets. This spirit of transparency has led to a very productive collaboration."

For more information, see this press release.

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(Posted on December 24, 2024)
by SoftBank News Editors

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