Smart operation of a mobile network in event of disaster

In the event of a natural disaster, mobile networks are expected to provide an added value to search and rescue operations. However, these networks and their services are not optimized with the requirements for this support in mind. A critical aspect is the need for several hours of backup power availability, something not usually required during AC grid outages resulting from other technical reasons. The availability of the maximum possible number of parallel emergency and voice calls during a disaster is ensured when the Operation & Maintenance Center reconfigures the network in accordance with a pre-defined emergency plan via a smart SW package. This also guarantees minimized power consumption by the basestations. The nature of the actual threat determines how the network has to be configured. Features such as prioritization of services and shut-down of hardware resources are part of this SW package and run automatically according to the pre-defined boundary conditions. The adaptation of HW-resources to the traffic situation can reduce the required battery backup capacity up to 30% in comparison to normal operation and for a given time period which has to be bridged. In combination with new battery technologies like Li-Polymer, which promise high energy densities, smaller and lighter battery backup devices can be realized in the future. Higher integration of digital components and advancements in power amplifier technology will yield a further reduction in basestation power consumption by up to 40% in the next two to three years, more or less independently of the mobile communication standard. Therefore, for low capacity basestations in rural areas, a battery capacity below 5 kWh (105 Ah @ -48 V DC) will be sufficient for eight hours of backup operation. For these applications, it will be feasible from a volume and cost point of view to omit combustion generation sets as emergency power sources.