Norway officials urge preparedness for internet and mobile network outages

Norwegian authorities are warning citizens to prepare for potential long-term outages of mobile networks and the internet, which could be caused by extreme weather, accidents, or sabotage. A survey conducted by Norstat for the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) reveals that 63 percent of the population feels poorly prepared for such a scenario, with only about one-third of households feeling well or very well prepared.

Justice and Emergency Preparedness Minister Astri Aas-Hansen has advised citizens to establish a ‘plan B,’ which includes deciding on meeting points and resource sharing in the event of digital communication failure. Officials recommend ensuring access to battery-operated or solar-powered DAB radios and maintaining charged power banks.

In response to the national ‘Self-Preparedness Week’ (Eigenberedskapsveka), municipalities in Nord-Gudbrandsdalen are coordinating efforts to inform residents about physical information points. These locations, such as libraries or town halls, will serve as hubs for contacting emergency services and receiving municipal information if digital networks fail. The Civil Defense (Sivilforsvaret) will also hold information stands to encourage community resilience.