By: John Shepler

A couple of weeks ago, a portion of the world experienced a communication blackout. This disruption wasn’t caused by governments or hackers, but by a powerful typhoon named Haiyan, which devastated the Philippines, resulting in thousands of casualties, millions displaced, and communication infrastructure crippled.

Natural disasters often obliterate infrastructure, including buildings, roads, radio towers, power lines, and telephone wires. Rebuilding these systems, which took years to develop, is a long and arduous process.

So, what bridges the communication gap in the meantime? The answer is emergency communication, primarily wireless. Wireless communication, in its simplest forms, can be deployed rapidly. A prime example is two-way radio, with ham radio being the first to connect Tacloban in the Philippines to the outside world. This story was featured on Sunday’s Weekend Edition on NPR.

Amateur radio operators, or “hams,” have a longstanding tradition of being first responders in communication outages. They conduct annual “Field Day” exercises to practice setting up communication systems quickly in remote areas. Hams also provide invaluable support as storm spotters, tracking rapidly forming tornadoes.

Hams can operate when other systems fail because they’re self-sufficient. A handheld transceiver, powered by batteries, can establish communication over hundreds or even thousands of miles. Their infrastructure is compact, portable, and easily deployed.

Cell phones offer even greater portability and self-containment, and their widespread use requires no special training or licensing. This form of mass wireless communication theoretically has no distance limitations. Text messages and tweets have emerged from global hotspots even when other communication channels are unavailable.

However, cellular communication is reliant on a network of towers and switching centers, which are vulnerable to damage from natural disasters, potentially causing communication blackouts. Thankfully, workarounds have been developed to address these vulnerabilities. Satellite phones, for instance, operate independently of local infrastructure, while portable cell towers, also known as COWs (Cell On Wheels), can be swiftly deployed to restore phone service within a limited area.

Traditional landlines, on the other hand, are highly susceptible to disruptions. Their vast networks of fragile copper wires are difficult to replace quickly. While landlines initially dominated due to their affordability and dependability, wireless communication has taken the lead. It’s faster, simpler, and more cost-effective to deploy, especially in developing countries without existing landline infrastructure.

Fiber optic communication is a different story altogether. Fiber optic cables encircle the globe, forming crucial undersea communication links. They complement LEO (Low Earth Orbit) and geosynchronous satellites that also carry communication signals. Despite the high costs associated with deploying thousands of miles of fiber optic cables, their installation continues to expand alongside satellite and other wireless communication systems. Why is this happening?

The answer lies in bandwidth. Fiber optic cables offer unparalleled bandwidth capacity. While wireless capacity is constrained by the electromagnetic spectrum, fiber optic cables transmit data using light waves. If one fiber strand reaches capacity, another can be activated. Typical fiber optic cables contain dozens, if not hundreds, of individual fiber strands, each with its own electromagnetic spectrum. Furthermore, fiber optic cables maintain their carrying capacity over vast distances, unlike wireless communication, which relies on local cells interconnected by, you guessed it, fiber optic trunk cables.

While copper-based landlines were the initial standard, fiber optic technology offers a more efficient and robust solution. The existing copper infrastructure will remain operational for several decades due to ongoing maintenance and upgrades. However, its eventual decline is inevitable. Much like the copper plant destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, many damaged copper lines are being replaced with fiber optic and wireless systems. The return of copper lines in the future is as unlikely as the revival of steam engines.

Business network connections, available through copper lines, fixed wireless, and fiber optic cables, are more affordable than ever. Businesses seeking to upgrade their bandwidth or increase capacity can obtain pricing and availability on voice and data circuits, plus cloud services now. For immediate assistance, call toll free (888)848-8749 for today’s best deals.

Note: Photo of Typhoon Haiyan as viewed by the International Space Station courtesy of NASA on Wikimedia Commons.