Why Does the Internet Stop Working During a Power Outage?

According to the Science and Technology Service of Saeed News, based on a report from Iran Newspaper, the Public Relations and Information Center of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in response to internet and communication system disruptions in certain areas of Tehran and several cities during power outages, issued a statement declaring: The disruptions were caused by power outages at mobile operator sites and the inefficiency of power storage equipment.

According to this report, some of the recent problems are also attributed to the failure of batteries at operator sites. The statement also mentions that over the past month, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Regulatory Authority for Communications and Radio (CRA) have held multiple meetings with communication operators to address this problem and improve the status of the batteries, and they are actively pursuing solutions to these issues.

Holding Meetings with Operators

What is the story behind the meetings between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Regulatory Authority, and the operators?

In this regard, Mohammad Emami, Acting Deputy for Postal, Communications, and Information Technology Affairs at the Regulatory and Radio Communications Organization, shared some details about the ministry's meetings with operators. He noted: Over the past three months, numerous meetings have been held with operators, and these sessions have examined issues related to the batteries of operator sites.

This official attributed the causes of malfunctions and problems to battery deterioration, poor quality of some brands, and frequent power outages. Emami also pointed to the theft of some backup and emergency batteries on roads as another issue, adding: In some locations, replacing batteries is not economically justifiable for operators, and this issue becomes more apparent during power outages.

He emphasized that addressing all these accumulated issues, some of which have persisted for years, requires more time. He said: Corrective actions have started in some areas, and some operators already have ongoing plans. Emami further stated: Over the past few years, investment in the communications sector has not met the required levels, and now operators must make significant investments to upgrade network equipment and ensure necessary development.

Chaos During Two-Hour Power Outages

Some experts believe communication networks should not experience such disruption during a two-hour power outage. For example, Faramarz Rastgar, Secretary of the Iranian Telecommunication Industry Syndicate, noted: A two-hour power outage during the day is far from what constitutes a crisis situation. If the network cannot endure such a short outage under normal conditions, concerns about performance during a true crisis become valid and logical.

Another expert attributed the failure of some communication networks during power outages to inadequate investment and poor infrastructure maintenance over the past ten years. He said: When asked to invest more, operators often cite low tariffs as a reason, arguing that their revenue and expenses do not align. They claim that only with higher tariffs can they consider new investments and upgrades.

Battery Degradation with Persistent Power Outages

An expert in the communications field, who also has experience in internet infrastructure development and preferred to remain anonymous, identified worn-out backup and emergency batteries as one reason for operators' inability to reduce network disruptions during outages. He said: These batteries often lack the necessary quality and gradually degrade due to prolonged power fluctuations. To address this issue, we must consider upgrading and modernizing communication towers.

He warned that neglecting these issues could exacerbate problems, especially on intercity roads, causing significant inconvenience for citizens. He added: This requires substantial investment, which some operators might struggle to afford under current conditions.

Another contributing factor to network disruptions during power cuts is the lack of proper planning. He explained: If everything follows a predefined schedule, network disruptions can be significantly minimized.

Two-Hour Outage Requires Ten Hours of Battery Recharge

He further stated: The standard battery backup time for communication towers to support stable internet and connectivity is a maximum of two hours. However, we often witness power outages exceeding this duration, which effectively disables the batteries from providing services.

Another significant issue is the time required to recharge these batteries. He explained: Fully recharging each backup battery after a two-hour power outage requires more than ten hours. Moreover, even a five-minute interruption during this charging period can prevent full recharging. Therefore, consistent and uninterrupted charging is essential for reliable service.

He emphasized the importance of coordination with power authorities: The power company must notify operators about scheduled outages and avoid any unscheduled interruptions. With such planning, network disruptions during power cuts can be minimized.

Battery Theft

The communications expert highlighted another major challenge: The repeated theft of emergency batteries on highways and remote areas. He explained: Due to the remote nature of these locations, operators often learn about disruptions too late, frustrating users. Increased collaboration with law enforcement can reduce these losses and enable operators to invest more effectively in minimizing network disruptions during power outages.