ANCOM warns mobile networks may lose power within an hour after a major quake
ANCOM’s August 2026 report shows most telecom outages stem from power failures, with many urban base stations required to have only one hour of backup.
ANCOM released a report in August 2026 highlighting the vulnerability of Romania’s telecom networks to power cuts, especially during a strong earthquake. Of the 938 major incidents recorded, more than 60% were linked to electricity outages. The regulator requires many city-based mobile sites to have at least one hour of backup power, a threshold that does not guarantee longer operation but sets a legal minimum.
During a public consultation, some industry participants argued for removing the requirement, citing space, cost and carbon concerns, yet ANCOM maintained the rule, saying current systems should cope. Operators must also notify the authority of any emergency-call (112) routing problems that persist for 15 minutes or more. After an hour, network continuity will rely on each operator’s additional generators, batteries and the speed of power restoration.
Why it matters
Phone service is critical for safety and emergency calls after a quake, but power-dependent networks may fail quickly.
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