Disaster-preparedness and recovery: a priority for telecom regulatory agencies in liberalized environments

Telecom infrastructure is assigned a special position in policy because of its important role in the everyday functioning of society. In addition to the direct effects of loss of service, telecom failures cripple coordination capabilities, hindering rescue and recovery operations. Effective disaster-preparedness and recovery is a socio-political objective that any government must attend to. In the case of government - or private-monopoly provision, the government may issue general directives to the management, directly intervene in management functions under ‘emergency’ conditions, and assume all or the bulk of disaster recovery costs. In the ‘new’ order of private provision of telecom services, a different response is required.