Telstra conducted a simulation of emergency mobile device roaming earlier this week, leveraging input from other telecommunications companies, although direct participation from these companies was not noted. The initiative stems from Telstra’s collaboration with the government, TPG Telecom, and Optus on a temporary disaster roaming (TDR) solution, a partnership that commenced in March last year.

In November, Telstra announced its intention to test the temporary disaster roaming (TDR) capability following a call from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for such capabilities. The recent simulation took place at a 5G innovation center located on the Gold Coast.

Telstra initiated the simulation by placing a device on a mock network, simulating a scenario where the network became unavailable due to a disaster. Subsequently, they simulated the activation of temporary disaster roaming functionality, enabling the device to roam onto Telstra’s network and establish a connection.

According to a Telstra spokesperson, the solution tested during the simulation was developed collaboratively with other telecommunications carriers. They emphasized that making temporary disaster roaming a reality requires cooperation among all stakeholders involved. The spokesperson also mentioned that Telstra plans to share the results of the simulation with other carriers and government entities as part of their ongoing discussions.

During the simulation, the Telstra 4G network was tested to verify its capability to receive and process the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) code broadcast. This code serves to identify the country and the specific mobile network to which a mobile device belongs. The objective was to ensure that the Telstra network could recognize the PLMN code and register the affected mobile devices onto its own network during a disaster scenario.

While the concept of PLMN codes may seem straightforward, the implementation of temporary roaming introduces additional complexity. Carriers must broadcast a unique network code specific to the disaster-affected sites. This specialized Temporary Disaster Roaming (TDR) network code is essential for enabling affected devices to connect to alternative networks in the absence of their usual network coverage.

During a disaster event, when the customer’s primary network is unavailable, devices would search for and connect to any available TDR network that has been activated. This process ensures that affected individuals can maintain communication by accessing alternative network resources.

Implementing temporary disaster roaming (TDR) requires carriers to establish prior agreements, similar to those in place for international roaming services. These agreements outline the protocols and procedures for activating TDR networks during disaster events and ensure seamless cooperation between carriers and government agencies.

Negotiations between carriers and the government typically cover the protocols for enabling TDR networks at affected sites. This includes defining the specific network codes to be broadcast and establishing communication channels for coordination during emergencies.

While carriers have made progress in conducting simulations and tests for TDR functionality, further testing is required to assess traffic management capabilities during TDR events. This aspect of TDR implementation is crucial for ensuring network stability and prioritizing critical communication needs during emergencies.

Telstra’s successful testing of roaming functionality in the simulation represents a critical milestone in demonstrating the feasibility of temporary disaster roaming (TDR). However, further work is needed to predict and manage the impacts of implementing TDR on live networks. Telstra intends to collaborate closely with other carriers to address these challenges and develop an industry-wide solution.

Channa Seneviratne, Executive of Network Technology Development and Solutions at Telstra, emphasized the importance of this simulation as the first step towards implementing TDR. He reiterated Telstra’s commitment to working with other network providers and government stakeholders to explore the feasibility of TDR implementation and develop a comprehensive industry solution. This ongoing collaboration is essential for ensuring the effectiveness and reliability of TDR in emergency situations.