NBN Emergeny Management

Greetings from the University of Sydney's business campus in the CBD, where Cameron Scott, NBN Network Emergency Lead, is speaking on  "NBN: Operation, Impact and Response".  This is at a meeting of the Interoperability for Extreme Events Research Group (IEERG). NBN use a similar approach to emergency management as other telecommunication companies and liaises with emergency services. They have to be prepared for loss of part of their infrastructure and also be ready aid with response and recovery.

Mr. Scott pointed out that the NBN is used for telephony as well as Internet. Unlike the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) the NBN telephony service requires mains power at the consumer's premises. Some NBN equipment has provision of limited battery backup.

NBN is building some transportable equipment to use where there is a loss of infrastructure:

• NoW: Network on Wheels for remediation of a fibre access node,
• WoW:Wireless on Wheels: Replacement fxed wireless tower.
• PoW: Point of Internet Connect on Wheels

NBN will also have transportable satellite ground stations, for ad-hoc use.

After a disaster, NBN will prioritize restoration of essential services, community infrastructure and essential businesses services.

Customers need to register as a "Public Interest Premises" to receive priority recovery service.

An interesting aspect of this, which I suggest needs research, is how the customers reliance on the Internet has changed how they will respond in an emergency. In particular, if the public is used to using the Internet for information, replacing radio, TV and the telephone, how will they cope when the Internet is not available? One option might be to provide car USB chargers or battery radios to the public. Otherwise communications will be reduced to loudspeaker vans in the street.