Not again

[Buckman]

If you've got a UPS, surely VOIP would still work - it relies on copper/optic cable to the local exchange, not airborne signals to the mobile phone mast.

Sadly no power to the local rural exchange and no power to masts equates to no Internet and no communication. We are on FTTC to our home.

When the modem for the wifi stopped working, I went outside to an area where I know I get at least 2 bar signal, but zero mobile signal so no Internet and of course no communication. Even DAB radio would not work so not sure what would happen in an emergency if they shut down the AM & FM transmitters?

Power went off at about 3.33pm and did not come back on until about 7.45pm so quite a long break. No storms, wind or rain around at the time and the power break affected a few square miles.

 

[Sam Vimes]

We have back up UPS for wifi, 240v inverter to power lights, small Tv or radio, gas lamps, camping gas stove, gas BBQ, torches in every room etc.

The power break affected 439 homes in a very large rural area which is served by one network mast. Sadly after about an hour this mast ran out of power and the networks covering our area failed. Apparently the mast will only last about 1 - 2 hours depending on usage before it runs out of power. That means no internet, no phones etc. and you cannot communicate with emergency services.

Brazen thieves could in full view of yourself steal your car, break into home while you are there, steal your goods etc and you cannot phone the police because the landlines have been removed by BT. I wonder if the government thought of this when pushing for landlines etc to be dumped?

A little confusing to me....

From past posts it seems you're on FTTC, which is a hard wire to a street cabinet, and that you use Wifi calling which is not dependent on a mast but a connection to your router and hence internet. None the less the street cabinet does need power from the grid and should have a battery backup. So if the cabinet loses power your internet and phone will be ok for a while but I don't know how long.

As for masts...... Those in rural areas may well be self powered and not reliant on the grid. If the power source for these - renewable, generator or battery does become exhausted then you may well lose connection. One hopes that measures are in place to replenish the supplies before they become exhausted.

However, for emergency calls your mobile phone will roam to whatever mast and service it can find. In fact you don't even need a sim card to make emergency calls.

Even masts reliant on the grid will have some form of backup but in reading the Ofcom report of this year about resilience, it doesn't install much confidence to me. Back up of 20% of all masts should be 1hour. Again the assumption is that there will be more than one mast you can connect to.

This may still leave some problems for some people as rural areas may not be covered by more than one mast.

 

[Buckman]

A little confusing to me....

From past posts it seems you're on FTTC, which is a hard wire to a street cabinet, and that you use Wifi calling which is not dependent on a mast but a connection to your router and hence internet. None the less the street cabinet does need power from the grid and should have a battery backup. So if the cabinet loses power your internet and phone will be ok for a while but I don't know how long.

That is correct however the exchange was within the power outage area so when the batteries at the exchange were depleted, no phone or data transmission. Our rural exchange is about 2 miles away. We had wifi for about 2 hours befroe it all shut down.

The masts that covers our area also lost power as no signal in the areas within walking range where I know we do get a signal. I doubt if we could have made an emergency call as they would not have been able to transmit that call? We did not try making an emergency call so have no idea?

 

[RogerL]

It's a first world problem! It just shows how reliant we all are on modern technology.

Except in emergency, it's not really a problem if my phone and internet don't work.

My backup in an emergency in such circumstances would be to get in the car and drive to where assistance is - if it's me that needs help my wife would ask neighbours.