Global: GSMA outlines five policy principles to strengthen mobile network resilience

The GSM Association (GSMA) has outlined five policy principles to help governments and regulators strengthen mobile network resilience against extreme weather, power failures, natural disasters and other infrastructure disruptions. The recommendations call for regulatory frameworks that encourage long-term investment, improve coordination across critical sectors and help telecommunications operators prepare for increasingly complex risks.

The principles accompany a new GSMA report, Futureproofing Connectivity: Climate Risk and Resilience in Telecommunications, which examines the financial and operational impact of climate-related damage on telecommunications infrastructure. The report estimates that severe storms and floods currently cost mobile operators approximately $1.7 billion annually in cell-site repairs and replacements, with the figure projected to exceed $3 billion by 2050 under anticipated mid-century climate conditions.

The findings highlight the growing pressure on mobile networks as climate-related disruptions threaten connectivity relied upon by businesses, governments, emergency services and individuals.

GSMA calls for coordinated approach to telecommunications resilience

John Giusti, GSMA Chief Regulatory Officer and President of the GSMA Foundation, said mobile connectivity had become essential infrastructure, particularly during emergencies.

He noted that telecommunications operators were investing significantly in protecting their networks, but the increasing complexity of threats required closer collaboration between the industry, governments and other infrastructure providers.

“Building resilience will require a coordinated effort amongst operators, governments and the wider ecosystem,” Giusti said.

The association argues that network resilience should be supported by policies that recognise the interdependence of telecommunications infrastructure and other essential services. It also wants regulators to create conditions that enable operators to make investments based on the specific risks facing their networks.

Five policy principles for stronger mobile networks

The GSMA’s Policy Principles for Mobile Network Resilience identifies five areas that governments and regulators should prioritise when developing policies to protect telecommunications infrastructure.

1. Replace overly prescriptive regulation with outcome-based requirements

The first principle calls on regulators to focus on measurable resilience outcomes rather than impose rigid technical requirements that may restrict operators’ ability to adopt solutions suited to their operating environments.

According to the GSMA, regulatory flexibility would allow telecommunications companies to direct resources towards the risks most relevant to their networks and infrastructure.

An outcome-based approach would also give operators greater scope to determine how best to meet resilience objectives while remaining accountable for network performance and service continuity.

2. Integrate resilience into network planning and design

The association recommends making resilience a central consideration in network development and infrastructure investment rather than treating it as a response to disruptions after they occur.

This involves accounting for future climate risks when designing mobile sites, selecting technologies and deciding where critical infrastructure should be deployed.

By incorporating resilience into network planning from the outset, operators can better prepare infrastructure for potential environmental and operational threats.

3. Consult mobile operators before introducing new requirements

The third principle encourages governments and regulators to engage telecommunications operators early when developing policies and requirements relating to network resilience.

The GSMA argues that consultation is necessary to ensure proposed regulations reflect operational realities, implementation timelines and investment costs.

It also warns against overlapping or conflicting obligations that could complicate compliance and make it more difficult for operators to coordinate their resilience investments.

4. Recognise network resilience as a cross-sector responsibility

Mobile network availability depends on essential infrastructure beyond the direct control of telecommunications operators. Electricity supply, transport networks and fuel availability, for example, can determine whether mobile sites remain operational during emergencies.

The GSMA therefore advocates stronger coordination among governments, telecommunications companies, energy providers, emergency services and other critical infrastructure operators.

This approach recognises that disruptions in one sector can affect the ability of another to maintain essential services, making joint resilience planning important to overall network continuity.

5. Build public trust through transparency and accountability

The fifth principle focuses on clear responsibilities, transparent communication and the continued availability of essential services during emergencies.

The association argues that governments and operators must ensure people can access reliable communications when they need them most, particularly during natural disasters and other major disruptions.

Clear communication about network conditions, responsibilities and service continuity arrangements can help strengthen public confidence in telecommunications infrastructure during emergencies.

Climate-related disruptions increase network repair costs

The GSMA report provides further evidence of the financial and operational consequences of extreme weather for telecommunications infrastructure across different markets.

An analysis covering more than 50 countries found that major storms and floods coincided with an average of approximately 150 telecommunications outages annually between 2022 and 2024. These incidents directly affected just under 215 million service users each year.

Severe storms account for the largest share of infrastructure damage, currently costing mobile operators approximately $1 billion annually. The report projects that this could increase to about $2.4 billion a year by 2050.

River and coastal flooding also contribute significantly to the cost of repairing and replacing telecommunications infrastructure, adding to the financial pressures facing network operators.

Beyond physical damage, the report identifies electricity supply as a major vulnerability. Extreme weather can disrupt mobile services not only by damaging telecommunications equipment but also by interrupting the electricity required to keep network infrastructure operational.

Operators have invested in backup power systems, redundant connections, emergency roaming arrangements and rapid-response capabilities to improve network continuity. However, prolonged electricity outages can exhaust backup capacity, leaving mobile sites unable to function.

The association also highlights the growing complexity of regulatory obligations covering telecommunications, critical infrastructure, emergency preparedness and climate-related reporting. It argues that fragmented regulatory approaches can make it harder for operators to assess risks and coordinate investments across interconnected infrastructure systems.

Implications for Africa’s telecommunications infrastructure

The GSMA’s recommendations have particular relevance for African markets, where mobile networks underpin financial transactions, commerce, public services and access to essential information.

In Nigeria, for example, reliable mobile connectivity is closely linked to electricity availability, backup power costs, fibre infrastructure and the security of telecommunications installations. Network operators face challenges that extend beyond maintaining base stations and expanding coverage, with power disruptions, infrastructure damage and the cost of maintaining geographically distributed facilities all affecting service quality and investment decisions.

The GSMA’s position is that governments should establish predictable regulatory environments that encourage long-term infrastructure investment while ensuring operators remain accountable for network availability.

The association also recommends that where resilience requirements exceed operators’ existing investment plans, governments should consider appropriate incentives, funding arrangements or cost-recovery mechanisms.

Such measures could help address the financial burden of building and maintaining infrastructure capable of withstanding increasingly severe disruptions, particularly in markets where operators already face significant infrastructure and operating costs.

GSMA urges shared responsibility for network continuity

The five policy principles reinforce the association’s position that mobile network resilience cannot be treated as the responsibility of telecommunications operators alone.

As climate risks intensify and businesses, governments and communities become more dependent on digital connectivity, protecting telecommunications infrastructure will require coordinated action across regulators, governments, network operators and providers of other essential services.

The challenge for policymakers is to establish regulatory frameworks that support investment, encourage cooperation and maintain accountability without imposing requirements that undermine the industry’s ability to respond to specific risks.

Ultimately, network resilience must extend beyond maintaining services under normal operating conditions. It must ensure that mobile communications remain available when communities, businesses and emergency services depend on them most.