08.03.2021 

 

“Most communications networks in Romania are modern, high-performance and highly resilient taking into account a wide range of risks, including cyber-attacks. Among these, their ’capacity’ as electricity consumers proves to be a major system vulnerability. The data communicated by operators show that more than 100,000 incidents caused by power outage were registered in the past year only, affecting the provision of electronic communications services. Closer cross-sectoral collaboration is needed, especially between energy and communications companies, because these domains are interdependent. Communications networks need electricity and rapid incident response intervention, while the power grids’ command and control systems for energy production, transport and distribution need communications networks. “, declared Eduard LOVIN, ANCOM vice-president.

Taking into account the growing need for security of the electronic communications networks and in accordance with the network security recommendations of European bodies, ANCOM has analysed the specificities of incidents caused by power outage, especially since in the recent years their number increased in total of incidents reported to the Authority. The analysis aims to assess the impact of power supply incidents that may affect the resilience of mobile electronic communications and identify specific measures that can be taken, in collaboration with other entities involved.

The failure of mobile communications in a given area during a power outage is likely to affect the proper functioning of a wide range of activities in various fields, such as: trade, industry, education, health, public order and even national security.

Survey findings

According to the Authority’s reports on security incidents, in 2019 the number of incidents with significant impact caused by power outages was almost 3 times higher compared to 2017 (from 140 to 360), reaching 45% of all the reported incidents. On the other hand, the average number of connections affected as a result of electrical incidents is decreasing, this trend being recorded also as regards the average duration of such an incident, while the total duration of incidents caused by power supply failures remains relatively constant (1,960 hours).

Almost 90% of the incidents caused by power outage affected the provision of mobile services (88.5% in 2017, over 94% in 2018, and over 97% in 2019). Most such incidents were registered in the counties of Buzau, Gorj, Teleorman, Constanta, Timis, Olt and Dolj.

The broader picture, besides incidents with significant impact, includes a much higher number of incidents caused by power failure, according to data resulting from the mobile operators' responses to a questionnaire launched by ANCOM. Thus, they recorded a total number of over 100,000 such incidents during the last 12 months, which impacted the operation of communications equipment and the associated supporting systems.

On the other hand, despite the continuous efforts to develop distribution networks, the relevant technical indices regarding the continuity of the electricity supply in Romania are still below the values ​​recorded at European level, according to data published by ANRE for 2019.

Providers’ incident response measures

The measures envisaged by mobile operators with a view to preventing and mitigating the effects of power failure incidents cover a wide range of solutions, from fixed and mobile generators to UPS systems or accumulator batteries. There is also an upward trend in the use of alternative energies, which is currently sporadic. The operators also envisage reviewing the power demand in all situations where it may be affected by changes in network topology or configuration, as well as optimizing the intervention logistics in case of power outages and using specific working procedures to shorten equipment repair times.

Further action options

Given the survey conclusions and analysing the practices at EU level, the Authority may consider amending the procedure for reporting security incidents, either by changing the levels of calculation thresholds (e.g. duration of unavailability, number of affected users/volume of traffic not provided while the network was down), or by adding new analysis criteria or factors (e.g. frequency of power failure incidents at a given location, the location’s importance class). Another measure that can be taken to improve the resilience of electronic communications networks and services could be carrying out audits on the continuity of supplying power to network elements.

Furthermore, it is necessary to increase the resilience of power supply networks and to identify optimal methods of collaboration between the energy and communications networks.

The survey is available in full – in Romanian - on the ANCOM website here.