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Catalunya deploys mobile antennas to restore coverage in emergencies
Catalunya adds a new telecommunications vehicle capable of restoring mobile coverage in areas affected by fires, floods or power cuts. The system will make it possible to recover communications in areas that have been left isolated and will facilitate both the work of the emergency teams and residents' contact with relatives and basic services.
The unit is equipped with a mobile antenna and can operate autonomously for 48 hours. Its coverage radius reaches up to 20 kilometres, enough distance to serve small towns, scattered housing developments, or large rural areas where regular infrastructure has stopped working.
The vehicle can quickly travel to the affected area and start operating without relying on the power grid. This autonomy is especially useful during forest fires, heavy rain, or situations where mobile phone towers have been damaged or are without power.
Restoring the signal will keep calls, alerts, and other essential services active during an emergency. It will also make it easier for firefighters, medical teams, police, and Protección Civil personnel on the ground to coordinate.
The Generalitat plans to use the unit in the most vulnerable locations and in situations where loss of coverage could worsen the isolation of the population. Rural and mountain areas will be a main priority due to their terrain and the distance between inhabited centres.
This tool can be decisive when conventional systems take hours or days to come back online. Having coverage allows people to report changes in an evacuation, request medical help, or find out about the state of roads and access routes without having to travel physically.
The actual range will depend on the terrain, obstacles, and environmental conditions, but the ability to cover up to 20 kilometres significantly increases response options. The unit can be adapted to urban areas, roads, valleys, or areas near large fires.
With this resource, Catalunya is strengthening a less visible part of emergency management: keeping the population connected when infrastructure fails. In those moments, being able to make a call or receive an alert can be as important as reopening a road or restoring electricity.