The threat of power cuts weighs on emergency numbers


Christel Heydemann, installed for eight months at the head of Orange, worried Wednesday before the Senators about the risks caused by winter power cuts on emergency numbers.

This is indeed a very sensitive subject for Orange, the operator which found itself plunged into the heart of an unprecedented crisis in June 2021, following a major breakdown in emergency numbers.

If the company has since “drawn the conclusions”, Christel Heydemann argues that it would be “illusory to think that there will be no impact for customers in the event of a power cut”.

“Unfortunately, telecom networks are not considered to be priority sites,” laments the general manager. Some sites are “prioritized in the prevention plans at the risk of load shedding”, but this is not the case for all. In particular, “the tens of thousands of mobile sites” are not, she points out. And this, even if they are equipped with generators and backup systems to take over temporarily.

Backup systems that show their limits

Christel Heydemann insisted, during her hearing before the Senate’s Economic Affairs Committee, on the fact that these backup systems may not be effective if “the load shedding intensifies”.

With the energy crisis, load shedding is an option considered to relieve the system in the event of excessive tension. The RTE had warned in particular that the risk of tensions would be “high” on the electricity system in January.

The French Telecoms Federation (FFT) has also voiced concerns about the impact of winter cuts on emergency calls. Its director general of the federation, Michel Combot, indicated at the microphone of Franceinfo: “We have no certainty at the moment, especially since we will only know the zones which will stop a few hours before their stop. effective, which requires enormous preparation to be able to anticipate and optimize the routing of emergency calls from 112.

Also anticipating 2023 and 2024

To prepare for the worst, Orange carried out on its side “a certain number of crisis exercises”, specified Christel Heydemann.

These actions are combined with a communication effort on the risks of load shedding to anticipate the worst scenario, adds the director general.

Beyond the energy crisis expected this year, Orange is also anticipating a harsh winter next year. The priority, according to Christel Heydemann, is to “work hand in hand with the operators, the FFT and the regulator to anticipate and minimize the impact”.





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