A Survey of National Disaster Communication Systems and Spectrum Allocation - an Indian Perspective

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure failure due to disasters result in huge monetary losses and jeopardize entire communication networks, directly affecting Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) operations. The absence of dedicated harmonized frequency bands for public safety and disaster relief communication is a major concern in India. It limits system functionalities and rescue efforts of Indian Public Protect and Disaster Relief (PPDR) agencies. In this paper, we conduct a survey of proposed and existing disaster management systems and emergency communication spectrum being used in developed countries, specifically Europe and the US and look at possible candidate frequency bands suitable for PPDR communication in the Indian scenario. We also look at global standards and regulatory frameworks drawn up by international standardization organizations for PPDR communication and spectrum allocation. We expand our scope of discussion by looking at ICT infrastructure currently being used in India to tackle large-scale PPDR operations. We further explore the possible system and design upgrades that may be carried out in future to support advanced early warning systems and state-of-the-art broadband PPDR networks.