Main navigation

Resilient Telecommunications

LRF Telecommunications Sub-Groups

Telecommunications Sub-Groups (TSGs) have been established of in each Local Resilience Forum (LRF) area as an integral part of the Resilient Telecommunications Strategy. The Chair or point of contact for TSGs can be found in the TSG Contact Directory [PDF, 3 pages, 51KB] (March 2008).

The role of the LRF Telecommunications Sub-Groups is to ensure local responders and their partners are able to communicate effectively even when faced with the most challenging circumstances.

Key early tasks for the groups will include the development and ownership of a Resilient Telecommunications Plan that is to incorporate the management of the new Mobile Telecommunications Privileged Access Scheme (MTPAS) as this is rolled out. The Plan is to be a living document updated as experience is gained through testing and exercising the arrangements and as circumstances change. Draft plans are to be developed no later than September 2008 with a view to sharing developing practices at a workshop in the Autumn.

The following information may be of assistance in establishing the Plan:

• Further details of the sub-groups and advice on their establishment, including a model terms of reference, is provided in a bulletin to LRF Chairs (September 2007).  [PDF, 4 pages, 218KB]
• The note of the workshop held in London February, 2008 [PDF, 7 pages, 127KB] contains an overview of the Resilient Telecommunications Plan and how the Plan might be developed by the September 2008 deadline.
• A booklet [PDF, 11 pages, 4.5MB] produced by Airwave Solutions Ltd provides advice relevant to Airwave.

As Strategy is implemented and the Groups mature, we envisage the Groups evolving to become a centre of knowledge on the resilience of communications in their area and able to offer advice when preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies.

TSG London Workshop – February 2008

A Workshop was held in London on 1st February 2008 for representatives from the TSGs. The note of the workshop [PDF, 7 pages, 127KB] contains an overview of the Resilient Telecommunications Plan and how the Plan might be developed by the September 2008 deadline.

The workshop included the following presentations:

• Introduction and strategic overview - (Bruce Mann, CCS) [PDF, 10 pages, 186KB]
• Resilient telecommunications programme: Update - February 2008 - (John Tesh, CCS) [PDF, 2 pages, 15KB]
• Telecommunications Sub-Groups: taking the lead in local telecommunications resilience - (Dr Nigel P Brown, CCS) [PowerPoint, 16 slides, 194KB]
• Telecommunications Sub-Groups – a practitioner's perspective - (Tony Morris, Sussex TSG) [PDF, 13 pages, 566KB]

At the request of workshop attendees Sussex LRF has provided the form that they have developed to conduct a survey of telecommunications resilience [Word Doc, 11 pages, 178KB].

Stakeholder Workshop - October 2006 

CCS held a workshop in Autumn 2006 - each Local Resilience Forum in England and Wales and other key stakeholders were invited to the event. The event was used to update stakeholders on the various strands of work being undertaken to enhance resilient telecommunications, and provide an opportunity for contributing to the strategy.

The workshop included the following presentations:

• Resilient Telecommunications - Introduction and Vision  [PDF, 10 pages, 171KB] - a presentation by CCS
• Resilient Telecommunications - A Strategic Framework [PDF, 12 pages, 178KB] - a presentation by CCS
• What Does Resilient Telecommunications mean? [PDF, 4 pages, 137KB] - a presentation by CCS
• Next Generation Network [PDF, 17 pages, 2.8MB] - a presentation by Central Sponsor Information Assurance, Cabinet Office
• Government Connect [PDF, 41 pages, 4.9MB] - a presentation by the Department for Communities and Local Government
• Cumbria Floods  [PDF, 62 pages, 4.5MB] - Lessons Learned - Cumbria Local Resilience Forum [Photo Source: bbc.co.uk/cumbria]

Workshop sessions where also held where stakeholders were asked three questions:

• What can local responders do to ensure resilient telecommunications?
• How can LRFs facilitate the process?
• What can Central Government do to help?

A summary of the key themes [PDF, 2 pages, 90KB] sets out the issues raised by local responders during the workshop session and question sessions.

Stakeholder Panel

A Stakeholder Panel has been set up to help advise CCS on the development of the Resilient Telecommunications Strategy to ensure that it meets the needs of stakeholders. The panel brings together representatives of those organisations who are core to the UK's emergency response.

• Terms of Reference  [PDF, 1 page, 56KB] - This document sets out the aim and objectives of the panel, along with a list of the organisations that are represented.

[return to top]