phone network

[Zai]

In a serious terrorist attack, HMG will shut down cell towers and land lines in the area.

Except payphones. Good bit of knowledge, that.

However if the infrastructure is damaged, even they won't work. I always carry a VHF/UHF handheld ham radio + spare battery just in case.

[Arzosah]

Aha! I'm making notes on payphones in my area and rellies' areas! I knew it might be useful!

[Leo1]

If the mains power goes you might get 4 to 8 hrs if you are really lucky.

Also a similar situation with anything relying on mains power, water, gas and sewage will start failing after about 4 to 8 hrs.

4 to 8 hrs is about the time the battery back-ups last but don't bet on it.

3 to 5 days for the big 3 networks, but only for them who the Goverment think should have access to them.

Airwave for much longer but only for emergency services, after that this is where the military step in. From the basic stuff through to Skynet

Leo

[12mp82]

Depends on cause and effect.

No power and the phones, land and mobile will likely be out in hours rather than days.

With the power on it will be longer without much doubt, depending who is holding the control panels

[Attack Warning Red]

Also, in times of national crisis, the govt. can switch off non-priority (you and me) phone lines. I believe there are three classes of phone user, of which we're the lowest. Next up is hospitals and councils etc., that remain with limited access, and finally the top (govt, military etc.) which still has full access.

I'll have to dig out the passage in on of my books...

[Hamradioop]

after the bombings, police decided to suspend one mobile phone network, to allow key people to keep using the system. More than a million calls were blocked and ambulance crews were unable to speak to their 'gold control'.



Mobile phone collapse made 7 July terror attacks worse


Mark Townsend and Cordelia O'Neill
The Observer, Sunday 4 June 2006

[Attack Warning Red]

Ah yes, it's called the Telephone Preference Scheme:

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/writ ... nce-scheme

There's a good section about this in War Plan UK (Duncan Campbell).

[Hamradioop]

In a serious terrorist attack, HMG will shut down cell towers and land lines in the area.

Except payphones. Good bit of knowledge, that.

However if the infrastructure is damaged, even they won't work. I always carry a VHF/UHF handheld ham radio + spare battery just in case.

Telephone Preference Scheme
HC Deb 17 November 1997 vol 301 cc46-7W 46W


§ Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the companies and organisations in(a) Category 1 and (b) Category 2 under the Telephone Preference Scheme. [15779]

§ Mr. George Howarth

The Telephone Preference Scheme Category 1 applies to Central Government emergency services, local authorities, the military and the utilities, all of which have a key role in an emergency. Category 2 applies to all public call boxes and coin operated telephones. It is not possible to provide a full list within the two categories without incurring disproportionate cost.

Therefore as a Cat 3 User forget the phones in the affected area.

[12mp82]

GTPS is the government scheme, the TPS is to stop nuisance calls a bit like the postal preference system to stop junk mail.

Also look for MTPAS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTPAS

[Attack Warning Red]

Telephone Preference Scheme. Not to be confused with the Telephone Preference Service.