Bell on Wednesday publicized its plan to mitigate the impact of natural disasters so that customers on its network can remain connected during these extreme events.
The telco said it is putting in place measures including setting up a 24/7 Corporate Emergency Operations Centre as soon as impacts on customers are seen; a year-round daily network review to ensure network stability; preparation of key locations for maximum battery life; topping up fuel in generators and prioritizing the generators in locations with key wireless sites, high-density fibre routes and public safety communications; instituting refresher training for crews and a readiness to push them to regions most affected by the events; communicating with key public and emergency offices to ensure effective coordination and support; and working collaboratively with other network providers.
Bell said the plans were put into action this past week in Yukon, Northern B.C., and Flin Flon, Manitoba, where infrastructure was damaged from the worst wildfire season ever in Canada. Bell said because of the plans put into place there, it was able to quickly restore services where it was safe to do so.
“In addition, we’ve been steadily transitioning from our copper network to fibre networks, which are more resilient to extreme weather conditions, reducing the frequency and length of weather related outages,” the telco said in a release.
For other providers, including Bell subsidiary Northwestel, the wildfires months ago forced it to use satellite for backup connectivity. Now, parts of the nation are gearing up for hurricane season.
“The resiliency of our telecommunications networks is of vital importance during extreme weather-related events,” Bell said in the release. “We understand that our customers rely on us in these situations to stay informed and to stay in touch with loved ones. Our teams have put into place the right people, plans and resources to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events this upcoming season.”
Bell cites a Nanos survey, commissioned by the Canadian Telecommunications Association in March 2024, that found one in three Canadians (39 per cent) report having experienced disruptions in service due to several weather or natural disasters in the past year.
