Australia faced unprecedented compounding crises in 2020. The year brought drought, a devastating bushfire season, floods and a global pandemic. Securing economic and social continuity during these crises highlighted a growing reliance on digital services and their importance to society, and the need for networks that continue to operate under all circumstances.
The pandemic highlighted the clear need for all telecommunications service providers to have professional plans for risk management, capacity and network scalability. In many ways, digital services operated at mostly normal service levels during lockdowns because of service providers' mature approach to risk management and capacity planning. Australians could work from home, continue their education, get medical assistance and buy food and other essential items.
" Australia needs policies and processes that make it easier to restore telecommunications services and support first responders. "
The Communications Alliance has developed a series of guidelines to standardise the telecommunications industry's interactions with emergency service organisations, energy companies and Australian Government agencies.