The Asia Pacific (APAC) region is characterized by its urban metropolises embedded amidst rural jungle, with climates that range from tropical to temperate. Connecting APAC’s people and industries across these two varied ecosystems are intricate branches of spectrum and web-like infrastructure.
APAC’s range in climate is largely due to its equatorial positioning. Positioned along the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the region is susceptible to both intense tropical storms and monsoons. This heavy rainfall can severely disrupt infrastructure, particularly telecommunication networks.
According to Statista, apart from geophysical circumstances such as recurring tectonic and seismic activity in the region, climate change is the biggest reason why the Asia Pacific is the most disaster-prone territory in the world. Global warming is intensifying these weather patterns. In 2023, the total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the Asia Pacific amounted to more than 21 billion metric tons.
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APAC Regions with the Highest Rainfall
According to data from the World Bank, countries like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea face some of the highest annual rainfall levels globally. Cherrapunji, India, for instance, averages over 11,000 millimeters of rain annually, often holding the title of the wettest place on Earth.
Indonesia, a nation comprising over 17,000 islands, experiences torrential rains due to its tropical climate and position along the equator. The Philippines, similarly situated in the Pacific typhoon belt, sees between 5,000 and 10,000 millimeters of rainfall during its wet season, with typhoons exacerbating the challenge of maintaining stable connectivity.
In Malaysia, regions like Kuching in Sarawak record an average of 4,000 millimeters of rain each year, while Papua New Guinea sees similar rainfall patterns, with its highland areas drenched with over 3,500 millimeters annually.
This high level of rainfall poses unique challenges for maintaining consistent network performance, particularly as these countries increasingly adopt digital infrastructures.
Ensuring Connectivity During Heavy Rainfall
With heavy rainfall being a common feature in many APAC regions, the risk of infrastructure damage, network outages, and reduced service quality is escalating. The key to overcoming weather-induced disruptions often lies in hardening infrastructure, developing resilient technologies, and adopting alternative means of connectivity.
- Microwave and Satellite Backhaul Solutions
Traditional fiber-optic cables, while offering high-speed connectivity, are often vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and storm-related damage. In contrast, microwave and satellite backhaul solutions have emerged as reliable alternatives for areas prone to adverse weather. Microwave technology can transmit data wirelessly over long distances, providing a lifeline to regions experiencing fiber networks that have ruptured.
Companies like Hughes Network Systems have been instrumental in deploying satellite solutions across the APAC region. For instance, in the Philippines, where typhoons regularly cause fiber cuts, satellite backhaul has been implemented to maintain network resilience.
- Weather-Resistant Base Stations
Base stations, which serve as the backbone of mobile networks, are especially vulnerable to high winds, rain, and flooding. In response, companies like Singtel, Ericsson and Huawei have developed weather-resistant base stations tailored for the APAC region's unique conditions.
Ericsson's ‘Resilient Network’ solutions, for instance, utilize waterproof enclosures and storm-proof materials that ensure functionality even during extreme weather events. Huawei has also introduced energy-efficient, waterproof base stations that are reinforced to withstand heavy rainfall and strong winds.
- Dynamic Spectrum Allocation
Dynamic Spectrum Allocation (DSA) is another innovation that ensures connectivity during extreme weather conditions. By allowing network operators to automatically shift to less congested or more stable spectrum bands when one band is affected by weather interference, DSA maximizes network performance. In heavy rain regions like Malaysia and Indonesia, DSA can be pivotal, particularly for rural or coastal communities where connectivity is often compromised during storms.
In research published by the MDPI's Applied Sciences, DSA has been shown to significantly reduce signal loss due to rain attenuation, which is a major issue for wireless communications, especially in millimeter-wave bands.
- Learning-Assisted Rain Attenuation (LARA) Models
Learning-Assisted Rain Attenuation (LARA) models are designed to predict and mitigate the effects of rain attenuation on wireless communication systems. By incorporating machine learning (ML) algorithms such as artificial neural networks, LARA models analyze key variables like rain rate, path length, and frequency to improve signal reliability during heavy rainfall.
Aviat Networks is pioneering advanced rain attenuation models, and is also exploring the capabilities of LARA models, to combat the adverse effects of rain on microwave signals, especially in millimeter-wave frequency bands. Insights from their research indicate that rain outage rates for millimeter-wave networks double with each increase in frequency band (e.g., from 18 GHz to 23 GHz). Additionally, rain outage is directly proportional to path length, and in tandem-connected short hops, the outage is equivalent to that of a single long hop when maintaining the same fade margin.
Importantly, multipath fading in optimally aligned millimeter-wave hops does not occur during heavy rainfall, allowing the entire path fade margin to be used to counteract rain attenuation.
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Storms and Solutions
Several significant storms have impacted connectivity and infrastructure in the APAC region over the years. Typhoon Mangkhut struck the Philippines and southern China in 2018, causing extensive damage to telecommunications networks and leaving millions without service due to destroyed cell towers and lines.
Similarly, Cyclone Gita ravaged Tonga in February 2018, leading to widespread outages that hindered communication and recovery efforts. In December 2019, Typhoon Kammuri, also known as Typhoon Tisoy, made landfall in the Philippines, severely disrupting infrastructure and resulting in prolonged service interruptions.
The impact of Tropical Cyclone Idai in 2019 extended beyond Mozambique, affecting southern African countries that rely on connections from the APAC region.
Most recently, Typhoon Rai, or Odette, hit the Philippines in December 2021, causing extensive damage across several islands and resulting in outages that persisted for weeks, severely hindering communication and recovery efforts.
In the face of APAC's challenging weather conditions, several companies are implementing innovative solutions to ensure reliable connectivity.
Airtel has made strides by being the first to establish connectivity in Phobrang, navigating severe weather, rough terrain, and the region's complex political landscape.
Converge ICT Solutions is also addressing connectivity challenges, particularly through the anticipated completion of its subsea cable by 2025. CEO, Dennis Anthony H. Uy, highlighted the hurdles in obtaining permits in countries like Indonesia, while COO, Jesus Romero, pointed out that adverse weather conditions have contributed to delays in the project's progress.
AALTO's Zephyr is poised to revolutionize global connectivity by providing unmatched Earth observation and connectivity capabilities. With a coverage area equivalent to 250 ground towers, it acts as a "terrestrial tower in the sky," seamlessly integrating into mobile operators' networks. The Zephyr's direct-to-device (D2D) technology enables low-latency 5G communication without the need for costly user terminals or extensive ground infrastructure. AALTO plans to establish AALTOPORTs worldwide, starting with a launch site in Kenya, chosen for its favorable weather conditions and equatorial location, which will enhance solar charging for operations.
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Ray of Light: Initiatives Focused on Ensuring Connectivity During Storms
In recent years, various government bodies, NGOs, and telecommunications companies have launched initiatives aimed at enhancing network resilience in the face of inclement weather.
The Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) has spearheaded efforts to develop a regional framework for resilient telecommunications, focusing on disaster-prone areas.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has been instrumental in encouraging the adoption of the UN’s Early Warnings for All Initiative, which encompasses the implementation of an early warning system specifically for telecommunications networks.
“Half of humanity is in the danger zone," observed United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, at the 2022 UN Climate Conference, COP-27. “Vulnerable communities in climate hotspots are being blindsided by cascading climate disasters without any means of prior alert." He called for all stakeholders to work together to adopt the UN's newly launched Early Warnings for All (EW4A) Initiative, which stipulates that every person in the world should be protected by an early warning system by 2027.
Furthermore, the ITU is leading the ‘Warning Dissemination and Communication’ pillar of the EW4A initiative, with support from IFRC, REAP, UNDP and WMO. Together, the unions will explore last-mile connectivity to ensure that warnings reach the people at risk in time to take action.
Smart city initiatives across the APAC region are also helping ensure continuous connectivity, especially during inclement weather. Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, for instance, leverages Internet of Things (IoT) devices to monitor network performance during storms. Sensors deployed across the city provide real-time feedback on infrastructure stress, allowing for immediate adjustments to network capacity and performance.
Despite its seemingly cloudy façade, the APAC region continues to address connectivity concerns, manage inefficiencies, implement notable solutions, and foster an environment conducive to counteracting its storm-laden positioning.
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