Telecom operators have found the solution to allow the use of the European emergency number in the event of a power cut.
But to be able to put it in place, it will be necessary to establish good cooperation between the French telecoms federation (FTT) and Enedis.
The 112 uses all relay antennas
Power cuts have been invited in recent weeks in the public debate. To the point that the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron called on the population not to panic. But if caution must remain in order, the scenarios of power cuts during the winter are no longer simple working hypotheses. Especially since France is in this area the country most at risk on the continent.
Something to worry about in an emergency. How to contact the emergency services? As recalled during his hearing before the Senate the director general of Orange Christel Heydemann, the mobile network could fall in the event of load shedding, the relay antennas not being considered a priority by the law on critical networks.
The French telecoms federation, which brings together the country’s four operators, has looked into the matter, and believes that the solution lies in 112. Indeed, the European emergency number, unlike that of the fire brigade (18 ) or the police (the 15th), uses all the relay antennas of the network, without discrimination of operator.
One solution: saving at least one antenna per sector
Thus, by dialing 112, a Bouygues customer can access the SFR antenna, and vice versa. A specificity that the FTT wants to exploit in the event of a possible power cut. It thus advises the government to keep at least one relay antenna in operation at the level of the sectors where the electricity will be interrupted for two hours.
The information concerning the relay antennas to be targeted for these scenarios has been sent by the federation to the manager of the Enedis electricity network. With the appropriate mesh, it would thus be possible to safeguard a line of communication between the services of 112 and individuals.
However, if the idea is now on the table, it has not yet given birth to any assurance of the maintenance of an emergency line in all circumstances.
Source : BFM-TV
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