Creating and Enhancing Network Resilience Can Curtail Threats From Natural Disasters

September 30, 2024
MarketScale

 

As climate change intensifies, natural disasters are becoming more frequent and destructive. Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and tornadoes are increasingly challenging network infrastructures. According to international insurance company Munich Re, global natural disasters in 2020 caused $210 billion in damage. Because reliable network connectivity is essential for emergency services and community recovery this ignites an essential question: 

How do we ensure that our broadband networks are resilient enough to withstand such disasters?

In the latest episode of “Wavelengths,” by Amphenol Broadband Solutions, host Daniel Litwin, the voice B2B, spoke with Richard Murtha, Senior Vice President of OSP Engineering and Construction at Kinetic by Windstream. Together, they talked about the strategies necessary for building resilient networks capable of withstanding natural disasters and discussed key lessons learned from real-world events.

Some points of their discussion:

  • Murtha explaining the importance of collaborating with local communities and evaluating environmental risks, such as flood zones and storm-prone regions, to harden networks.
  • His experience with FEMA and numerous telecom roles, and how networks can be rebuilt and fortified following catastrophic damage, such as during Hurricane Michael in Florida.
  • The financial considerations of network maintenance and resilience, particularly in underserved areas prone to disasters.

Richard Murtha is the Senior Vice President of OSP Engineering and Construction at Kinetic by Windstream. He has an extensive career in telecommunications, from his early days at New York Telephone to leading large-scale operations at Kinetic by Windstream. He has managed network resilience efforts in regions affected by hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding and worked with FEMA on disaster recovery during Hurricane Michael.

Article by Alexandra Simon.

Recent Episodes

View episode

Today, telecommunications is characterized by increasing technological advances and evolving market conditions, making the industry stand at a crucial juncture. With ongoing government initiatives like the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program injecting significant capital into infrastructure, the stakes are high for companies to adapt and thrive. This dynamic landscape demands a nuanced understanding…

rural broadband expansion
View episode

High-speed internet access is synonymous with economic prosperity, however, the disparity in broadband infrastructure between urban and rural communities has never been more pronounced. As the digital revolution marches on, the divide widens, leaving rural communities deep in the shadows of technological advancement. But this stark reality centers an urgent call to action, spearheaded by…

BEAD
View episode

In a timely and important episode about the deployment and execution of federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding, several telecommunications experts weighed in on the program’s future. With 2023 coming to a close, this conversation about BEAD comes at the right time as it marks a year filled with substantial updates and progress…