Summer is unfortunately also storm season. Storms can have significant impacts on telecommunication networks. Whether it's heavy rain, storms, or lightning strikes – Vodafone's infrastructure, including cable, DSL, mobile, or fiber optics, can be severely affected. Learn about potential problems and what you can do to get back online quickly. Additionally, discover the measures Vodafone takes to restore the network after a storm.
Typical Problems After Storms
Fixed Network (Cable, DSL, and Fiber Optics)
- Cable Damage: Storms can damage cables due to fallen trees, floods, or construction work following storm damage.
- Power Outages: Storms often lead to power outages, which can disable routers and other devices. Network nodes also require stable power supply.
- Water Damage: Moisture can enter cable ducts or distribution boxes, leading to short circuits or corrosion.
- Overvoltage Damage: Lightning strikes can cause overvoltage damage to modems, routers, and other devices.
- Network Overload: During storms, the network can become overloaded if many people go online simultaneously for information or help.
Mobile Network
- Network Overload: Large-scale power outages or other disasters can lead to network overload as many people use the mobile network simultaneously.
- Damaged Transmission Masts: Storms can damage or knock down transmission masts.
- Power Supply: Mobile masts also rely on stable power and can fail during power outages.
Recommendations for Affected Customers
Before the Storm
- Data Backup: Regularly back up your important data on an external storage device or in the cloud.
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): Have a UPS ready to bridge power outages.
- Surge Protection: Use surge protectors for your router and other sensitive devices.
- Emergency Contacts: Keep your provider’s emergency contacts handy to quickly request help if needed.
During the Storm
- Turn Off Router: Turn off your router during severe thunderstorms or storms to avoid overvoltage damage.
- Use Mobile Data: Switch to mobile data if the fixed network fails.
- Activate Cell Broadcast: Cell Broadcast is a warning system that allows authorities to send alerts directly to your phone. This can be life-saving during storms and other disasters.
How to Activate Cell Broadcast:
- Android: Go to Settings > Security & Emergency > Emergency Alerts and activate them.
- iOS: Go to Settings > Notifications > Emergency Alerts and enable "Extreme Alerts" and "Severe Alerts."
After the Storm
- Check Network: First, check your own devices before reporting a fault.
- Restart Router: Restarting the router can often resolve minor connection issues.
- Report Faults: Use our outage finder to check if the fault is already known. If not, you can report it online.
- Use Alternative Connections: If possible, use alternative connections like public Wi-Fi hotspots or mobile data.
- Follow News: Stay informed through local news and Vodafone updates on the status of repair work.
Additional Tips
- External Batteries: Keep external batteries or power banks ready to charge your devices during power outages.
- Information Sources: Turn on the radio or install warning apps.
- Community Help: Coordinate with neighbors for mutual assistance in restoring connections and accessing important information/buildings.
- Use VPN: Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for secure connections, especially when relying on public Wi-Fi hotspots.
What Vodafone Does After a Storm
We take various measures after storms to quickly restore network stability:
- Crisis Management Teams: We have specialized crisis management teams activated immediately after a storm. These teams coordinate repair and restoration work.
- Prioritized Fault Clearance: Faults are prioritized so that critical areas are repaired first, including high-density regions and key infrastructure.
- Mobile Deployment Vehicles & Base Stations: We deploy mobile vehicles equipped with spare parts and technical equipment to affected areas for quick repairs. We also set up mobile base stations to restore mobile connectivity quickly.
- Additional Technicians: Extra technicians from other regions are brought in to accelerate repair work in case of widespread outages.
- Emergency Power Supply: We use mobile generators to ensure power supply to key nodes and mobile masts until regular power is restored.
- Network Monitoring: Continuous network monitoring allows us to detect faults early and respond quickly. This way, issues can often be resolved before they have a major impact.
Conclusion
Storms have many impacts on our digital life and networks, whether fixed (cable, DSL, and fiber optics) or mobile. The infrastructure is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters. With our tips, you are well-prepared and can react accordingly. We work hard to quickly restore network stability after storms to minimize the impact.
