Responding to floods in Germany
In recent decades, Germany has seen an increase in the frequency and severity of floods due to climate change and land use. These have caused significant destruction and disruption in the country, and continue to pose risks to our infrastructure.
In June 2024, significant flooding occurred in Southern Germany, striking the most in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria with water level rises of up to 10 meters. A smaller flood also occurred in September in the Saxony region. Vodafone Germany was directly affected by these extreme weather events and experienced substantial damage to its cable networks.
Restoring our network
To restore the affected network quickly and safely, we mobilised departments across the business, such as field services, network management teams and crisis management teams, and disseminated information across the wider business. On the ground, we deployed our teams to assess the damage and repair the network equipment. During this process, we utilised our mobile RAN trailers, a disaster recovery truck containing all necessary equipment and power backup solutions to optimise network repair. Where additional support was needed, we collaborated with our external partners to undertake more complex repairs, for example in the excavation and rebuilding of our lines. We also liaised closely with energy providers to accelerate the restoration of our network’s power.
As a result of this coordinated approach, Vodafone Germany was able to promptly repair damaged assets and operationalise the network. Throughout the repair process, we took necessary measures to ensure that customers, authorities and local communities were kept informed of the impact on their internet access. To build our climate resilience and prepare for the occurrence of similar events in the future, Vodafone Germany is looking to integrate predictive monitoring using rain and weather forecasts in its network management processes.
Supporting affected communities
As part of Vodafone Foundation’s Instant Network Emergency Response (INER), we reached out to local authorities to offer our support in reestablishing connectivity in affected areas. Our Instant Network teams are deployed across the world at short notice to help displaced people struggling without connectivity, most commonly those affected by natural disasters, but also refugees.
In this instance, the German local authorities did not require the INER’s support. However, Poland was also affected by the floods in September, leading to the deployment of INER teams in affected regions. The team provided connectivity to seven different places in total over the course of a week. From a school in the devastated town of Stronie Śląskie, drafted into service as both a distribution hub for emergency supplies, as well as a base and dorm for first responders, to a farm acting as a base for attempts to reach remote villages that had been cut off from the wider world by the floodwaters.