1. A Technical Report Published in
IEEE conference
- by Prof. Devendra Nath Pani
1

2. INTRODUCTION
Now a day’s proliferation of telecommunication technology is at peak level. Generation after
generation, new invention in communication sector is getting better and better towards
optimized sharpening results and susceptible of handling threats. As the development of new
technology and its implementation in various authoritative sectors, the risk factor for threat is
very high. So this is a very critical issue to handle the various threats came from any aspects.
Information and Communications Technologies abbreviated as ICT from the last two decade
has leading to various sector like telecommunications and broadcasting, computing.
Interdependency caused ICT infrastructure to more sensitive.
Transport and
Finance EXPLORATORY EXPLORATORY Logistics
OF OF
TECHNOLOGY
Economics ECONOMY Smart Cities
ICT
Supply Chains INNOVATION
Energy
ACCELERATOR
IT Network and
Communication
EXPLORATORY EXPLORATORY
OF SOCIETY OF
ENVIRONMENT
Climate
Health
Change
Resilience Environmental
Changes
Well-Being
Water Natural Disasters
Demography
Migration
Natural and
Renewable
Resources
Conflict War Crime
Corruption
(ICT: A Typical structure)
2

3. THE ICT INFRASTRUCTURE
The environment of ICT is very complex and having many aspects causing positive as well as
negative effect in environmental property. An interconnected ICT infrastructure model is given
below.
ICT
INFRASTRUCTURE
ENERGY TRANSPORT COMMUNICAIONS WATER
CLIMATE
THREATS
ADAPTIONS
INTERDEPENDENCIES
SHARED VULNERABILITY
(A typical interconnected ICT environmental structure)
For the ICT infrastructure there are some basic requirements, those are:
Good quality Broadband availability.
Wi-Fi of wide bandwidth must available.
Secured Fiber network for high speed data transmission.
3

4. Very good infrastructure for digital industries.
To avoid threat there must be security for server.
Persistence in Infrastructure to protest the threats comes from climate change.
CLIMATE THREAT TO ICT IN COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Climate change has a huge impact throughout the ICT infrastructure due to its sensitive
nature. The entire Communication system is based on the principle of transferring and
receiving signals in various ways. The Communication system is interconnected with each
and every sector of ICT infrastructure. If there is one system found faulty then the whole ICT
infrastructure comes to a situation of jeopardy. Climate change encourages increasing the
threats like cyber attack. So it is very important to identify and fix the fault before ICT
undergoes such situation [Ref 7].
There are various ways of effect of climate and broadly categorized in two classes [Ref 7]:
1. Fast acting direct issue. (Flood and cyclone are the kind of fast acting direct issue
which has direct impact on the infrastructure.)
2. And Slow acting direct issue.
There are several threats due to climate change that can put the ICT sector in jeopardy. Those
threats are as below:
 Cyclone or high speed wind can damage telephone terminals, which damage the
wired ICT infrastructure.
 Variation in rain with heavier density can be a reason to attenuation and fading of Wi-
Fi signal and mobile signal.
 The Ground heave can have an effect on grounded cables.
4

5.  As wind speed and direction (velocity) varies significance for the stability of high
elevation communications platforms.
 Building design can be a cause of interrupt wireless communication, for example
silvered windows disrupt mobile communications.
 Changes in growth of plant could have an impact over interrupted wireless
communication.
 Changes in atmospheric condition such as humidness could be a cause of gain
troposphere scintillation and disturbance [Ref 8].
 Some ICT components are made up of rare earth metals; the deficit of those rare
physical resources is responsible for the threat due to climate change. The rare metals
are used to develop and deploy the equipment of ICT.
 Satellite communication is affected by solar storm, although this is not a result of
climate change.
ICT Climate Change
Attenuation,
damage wired IT Network and High speed wind, Rain
connection, damage density, Ground heave
Communication
grounded cable
Wired, Wireless and Interconnected
Exploratories and ICT
Optical fibre
Platforms
5

6. Now a day’s ICT sectors is becoming more sustainable because most businesses and
individuals are dependent on continuous ICT coverage. Rather it is now a question whether it
is sustainable critical situation, because it is not 100% under such risk factors occurred during
climate change. The system resilience is preponderantly driven towards the business purpose
action to assert good service. There should be a cost effectiveness of the total network to be
robust for commercial justification rather it is necessary to motivate the investor for the
network infrastructure to focus on its 100% faultless services.
In ICT infrastructure the devices used by the end-user day to day is refreshed rapidly, but the
change in climate is quite slow than network element change rate makes this sector very
different from others. If one system fails then there is more number of diverse systems to
provide backup in the infrastructure. To get better efficiency in ICT infrastructure the degree
of diversity should be reduced.
There should be a minimum resolution distance depending on the vulnerability and
geographical location, for example 50km range of resolution could be most powerful and
susceptible to risk assessments. Climate change varies at different location, so there is a
variation in resolution range.
The information regarding climate change and forecasting of weather events, provided by
ICT is a huge advantage of the infrastructure.
6

7. ADAPTIONS
ICT IN MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE AND ENHANCED DATA SERVICES
The wireless network plays a major role in ICT infrastructure make the system robust. The
user of mobile phone in both the urban as well as rural are increasing day by day results a
better coverage all over the network. Mobile phone use as a part of ICT infrastructure can
help poor people to know and understand important information about health and weather.
ICT encourages people to use mobile phones for multiple purposes and provide sharp and
clear coverage. Sending and receiving data through wireless media is increasingly adopted in
each and every sector. In 2G and 3G mobile technology there are various services provided
such as messaging, video calling and image transfer-all are part of mobile data services [Ref
12]. Important information sending through message, using internet by mobile phone makes
the ICT service more robust so that one can access mails everywhere in its coverage area.
The enhanced mobile data service offering network management service and hosting to make
better performance of users IT system by high efficiency. Dependency of mobile data service
is greater than wired data service as there is a climate change like cloudy sky, the broadcast
could be interrupted.
.
7

8. ICT IN MACHINE TO MACHINE SYSTEMS (M2M)
The interconnection between physical world such as actuator network and remote sensor
network creates a machine-to-machine system in the ICT network. This M2M (Machine-to-
Machine) system enable devices and implementation in the Infrastructure makes the total ICT
infrastructure like a remote control network [Ref 2]. The remote control of the network is a
procedure of activity like receiving and sending information, processing the information and
if required then it can store the necessary information also.
The software and hardware part of M2M system is integrated to do some specific operation
like collection of information then processing it, transmit the required information after
processing. There is no human involved in the process of M2M system [ref 4].
In M2M system, there is various programming are planning and developing it for available it
any time anywhere (ubiquitous) usage.
8

9. INTERDEPENDENCIES-
A SYSTEM APPROACH TO VARIOUS EXISTING COMMUNICATION SECTORS
Interconnecting all the major important sectors and integrating them with links is very
necessary. Such integrated arrangements like banking, airport, rail road and other government
sectors have been robust by the help of telecommunication sector.
Continuous supply of electricity is absolutely necessary for ICT infrastructure. In all wireless
network and wired network the exchange have a battery backup of two hours [Ref 6]. This
proves the ICT infrastructure is susceptible to threat in situation like flooding, severe
weather. Power supply is affected by flood and so mobile network, thus causing vulnerable to
broadcasting.
Bad weather can causing problem for engineer to enter wrong destination. In the coming
years ICT infrastructure will be more comprehensive and complex network, become harder to
identify and resolve the faults.
The discontinuity of power supply creates a very complex situation in the energy sector of
ICT Infrastructure as a result the smart metering is dependent on this issue. Operations of
antennae are affected by in heavy rain and flood.
In future year dependency will be more between Energy sectors, power network such as
smart meter and smart grids. Cloud computing will encourages increased homework in ICT
infrastructure and more homework will reduce the pressure from transport network with
growing data traffic [Ref 5].
Substantially, it will be the matter of population distribution, usage of power and water,
finally emission of carbon.
9

10. Threat:
Electromagnetic
emission, nuclear Threat: Climate
radiation. Change: Flood,
High wind
ICT
Infrastructure
Communication System
Wired Wireless Optical
fibre
INTERDEPENDENCIES BETWEEN WIRED AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
In wired communication, signal is transmitted by means of a copper cable. Speed of data
transmission is more in wired communication, because the carrier signals are transmitting
through a cable wire. It is very effective use in business sectors.
Radio signals are communicating between source and destination in wireless communication.
There are many workstations in the wireless network having various types of antenna and
transceiver to receive and transmit radio signals. AM, FM, radio signals are part of wireless
communication which provide interdependency between various activities in the
Infrastructure of ICT. Sensor technology in wireless communication deals a vital role to
strengthen the defense sectors [Ref 12].
Wireless telephone can reaches to the rural Infrastructure area and put a big impact on rural
ICT in different ways, that are:
10

11. Easy to access Information.
Correct the market inefficiencies.
Providing disaster relief communication Infrastructure.
Providing useful information about Education and health.
In the sector where electromagnetic emission could cause a disaster, for example
nuclear reactor can always have a threat from electromagnetic emission generated by
using wireless equipments.
Oil pipeline and gas pipeline should be kept away from electromagnetic emission. To
overcome the situation of tragedy from nuclear fission and explosion from gas
pipeline or oil pipeline fiber communication is the secured communication to those
sectors of ICT [Ref 1].
OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATION
There are several advantages of optical fiber communication in ICT sector rather that wired
or wireless communication, few of those are:
Enormous bandwidth by total internal reflection with negligible loss.
Due to small size and weight easily transportable.
Not susceptible to electromagnetic interference and cross talk.
Secured transmission of signal due to no significant radiation.
Very reliable and easy to maintain rather any electrical conductor.
11

12. Category/Sectors Dependencies on Dependencies on Dependencies Impact on Infrastructure
ICT Sector Climate and on neighbor’s
Population ICT (overseas
system)
Communications In Communication Statistical changes Being a For control system many
Sector Sector for all and user behaviour global system sectors progressively
services energy affects ICT ICT sector dependent on ICT,
needed; So Infrastructure. has many For sensing and
communication is Example: increased dependencies Coverage the ICT
dependency on home working. on other infrastructure increasingly
Energy Sector. country. dependent.
In communications controlling by command on a battlefield of a very highly sophisticated
like in Army is much more dependence on Electronic Warfare. It proves our vulnerability to
enemy as well as dependency of communicator. Spread spectrum technology with high band-
width is used in this sector for high security. Between this bandwidth different FM ranges are
used to sustain the bandwidth with direct sequence spread spectrum [Ref 11].
In a situation where enemy deliberately attempt to intervene with the communication of
Army is made by incorrect electronic components, to avoid this issue advance technology
with EMC is used [Ref 11].
12

13. The interdependencies of different type of communication system such as wired, wireless and
fiber network in ICT infrastructure access is as below.
ICT
Infrastructure Access
ICT-Bundled ICT-Enabled ICT-Shared Infrastructure
Infrastructure Infrastructure
Fiber Communication ICT Wired Communication Wireless Sharing Network
Infrastructure Using Power Lines Facilities for ICT
Roads+ Power Grid+ Wired Communication Network Sharing
Fiber/Telephone cables Fiber/Telephone cables by Power Line
Railway roads+ Water Lines+ Broad over Power Line Base Station Sharing
Fiber/Telephone cables Fiber/Telephone cables
Sewerage Lines+ Oil Pipeline+ Wireless Capacity-
Fiber/Telephone cables Fiber/Telephone cables Sharing
Satellite Capacity-
Gas Pipeline+ Multiple Utilities+
Fiber/Telephone cables Fiber/Telephone cables Sharing
Interdependencies of Wired, Wireless and Fiber Communication in ICT Infrastructure
13

14. STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN FOR THE SITUATION
Implementation of action plan is expected by developing new probabilistic methodology to
the ever-changing climate condition and the issue rooted from complex engineering
infrastructure. The actions needed are:
 Share the infrastructure between all communication medium, in situation one system
stops working others are ready to use.
 In flood situation, wired communication is in hazard but wireless communication is
ok. So place the base station and substation in a comparatively height place and
should be connected to the power line.
 Backup battery of the exchange should be recharged by solar or wind.
 Undergrounded fiber cable could avoid the situation made by high wind or tornado.
CONCLUSION
In ICT infrastructure the devices used by the end-user day to day is refreshed rapidly, but the
climate change is quite slow than network element change rate makes this sector very
different from others. If one system fails then there is more number of diverse systems to
provide backup in the infrastructure. The information regarding climate change and
forecasting of weather events, provided by ICT is a huge advantage of the infrastructure.
Pure commercial outsourcing that lift worries over security, reliability and accessibility of
capacity coupled with the high costs and relatively slow deployment. If there is barrier in the
signal transferring medium then it affects the total system. The barrier is like signal jamming,
trapping or any technical fault occurred during transmission of signal wave. Jamming and
trapping a signal in high bandwidth range is a type of threat from enemy or fraud. ICT sectors
14

15. can be more efficient and better tolerance to the ever changing climate by good planning and
intelligent designing.
REFERENCES
1. “We will create a presumption in favour of sustainable development in the planning
system.” http://programmeforgovernment.hmg.gov.uk/environment-food-andrural-
affairs/
2. M2M Evolution, "Syniverse Expands Clients Base; Signs Multi-Year Deal with M2M
Provider Numerex," October 4, 2010
3. Remote Site & Equipment Management, “Redefining Green Technology: Enabling
Smart Controllers for Water Conservation,” August/September 2010
4. M2M Evolution, “Numerex Enables DIY Vehicle Monitoring,” September 13, 2010
5. Hargroves K. C. and Smith H. (Eds.). (2005). The National Advantage of Nations:
Business Opportunities, Innovation and Governance in the 21st Century. Section 3:
The regulatory measure response. London: Sterling, VA, (182-188).
6. Markle Foundation. Creating a Development Dynamic. 2.2.5 ICT for the
Environment. United Nations Development Programme. Final report of the digital
opportunity initiative. July 2001, from
http://www.opt-nit.org/framework/pages/2.2.5.html
7. Sands P. (2003). Principles of International Environmental Law (2nd Ed.).
Cambridge University Press. (200-211).
8. The UK Climate Change projections use 30-year periods, designated by the middle
decade (i.e. the 2020s refers to the period 2010-2039).
9. www.raeng.org.uk/adaptation
10. Principles of Electronic Communication Systems 3rd Edition – Frenzel – McGraw-
Hill (2009)
15

16. 11. EMC for Product Designers - Tim Williams
12. Radio Communication 2nd Edition – D C Green – Longman (2000)
16