Connecting Customers in Time of Network Failure

A joint agreement between the two largest mobile operators in Denmark, TDC Mobile and Sonofon, has ensured that mobile calls can be placed in the event of extensive breakdowns in one of the nation-wide mobile networks.

The agreement, which is the first of its kind in the Nordic region, means that customers at TDC Mobile or Sonofon can use their mobile telephones even if one company's network is affected by an extensive, long-lasting, and critical break-down.

This business continuity arrangement comes into force if, for instance, one operator experiences a break-down in a mobile central office, which results in a large area being without mobile coverage. The affected customers will be moved to the other operator's mobile network free of charge. Customers with the mobile companies that use TDC Mobile and Sonofon's networks - also referred to as service providers - are also covered by this emergency roaming agreement.

"Provision of mobile communication entails a significant responsibility for the people who depend on their mobile phones in a number of critical situations. This agreement increases security - not only for the more that 1.4 million customers in Sonofon's network, but also for TDC Mobile's and its service providers' customers," says Jon Hoffmann, CTO of Sonofon.

"With approx. 2.4 million customers in our network, we have a natural obligation to safeguard operations in the best possible way. The joint agreement increases security both for our and for Sonofon's customers, which is important today, where the mobile telephone is the primary means of communication for many Danes, says senior vice president Henning Dickow from TDC Mobile.

Except for a different operator name in the display, the customers will in most cases not even notice that their calls are made possible via "emergency roaming". The additional traffic may mean that the network that is in operation will be exposed to a heavier load due to the many customers. Besides the common mobile services, the customers can also use GPRS data services in case of emergency roaming."

Posted to the site on 17th January 2005