Insights

Empowering connectivity: Transforming crisis response with public cloud technology

Written by Shay Assaraf, CMO, Totogi

In times of crisis — whether natural disasters or civil unrest situations — communication is more than just important, it’s a lifeline. The ability for people and communities to stay connected is a basic human need, underscoring the critical role of resilient communication infrastructure. In such moments, cloud technology has been proven to be a key enabler of business continuity and rapid recovery, ensuring connectivity when it’s needed most.

Supercharging crisis response with public cloud power

Public cloud technology enables effortless business continuity for mobile network operators (MNOs), providing the flexibility, scalability, and cost-effective solutions needed to restore critical IT systems rapidly. By using public cloud native applications, MNOs can ensure business continuity, eliminating the need for pre-provisioned disaster recovery solutions and minimizing the impact of unforeseen events.

Take Sudan, where the ongoing conflict highlights the critical importance of public cloud infrastructure in crisis response. Since 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a civil war, with the army clashing against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. This conflict ignited a humanitarian crisis that has become the world’s biggest displacement crisis. In a country of 50 million people, nearly 50% urgently require aid amidst escalating conflict, mass displacement, and economic hardship. The shutdown of communication channels has amplified the situation, hampering the delivery of aid to vulnerable communities.

In early 2024 the crisis escalated and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces attacked vital infrastructure across the country, including MNOs data centres. Telecom provider Zain Sudan took a direct hit, losing the connection to its primary data center in Sudan’s capital Khartoum and therefore, ability to operate it. This left millions isolated and deprived of vital communication services, including their mobile money wallets, which many Sudanese people rely on to pay for necessities and receive money. Following a response from existing vendors, giving a resolution time of six months to establish a new charging system in a new data center, Zain Sudan had to act fast to deploy an alternative solution. They turned to Totogi’s Charging-as-a-Service on AWS. Leveraging Totogi’s public cloud-native solution, Zain Sudan ensured uninterrupted service and achieved significant cost savings compared to its traditional disaster recovery expenses. The project’s duration from initiation to go live was 18 days, restoring services after a 40-day blackout period. This project and the implementation of Totogi Charging-as-a-Service was recognized by Light Reading Awards in September 2024 for the Most Innovative Telecom Software Product.

Agility: The secret weapon in crisis response

Selecting the right technology partner is paramount at the best of times, but it becomes make-or-break during crises. In the face of dynamic challenges, the ideal business partner offers not only resources but also innovation, adaptability, agility, and a profound understanding of crisis-affected communities.

Legacy vendors often fall short, lacking the agility and rapid deployment capabilities required in crisis scenarios. Traditional on-premise systems are further handicapped by their reliance on power, dragging out deployment. In contrast, public cloud and SaaS models like Totogi’s AWS-native software have transformed the landscape. These technologies enable organizations to respond in real-time. Strategic partnerships supercharge response capabilities, ensuring that aid reaches affected communities swiftly and efficiently. By focusing on solutions with a lower total cost of ownership, organizations can reduce disaster recovery expenses and navigate crises with greater resilience.

In conclusion, connectivity, reinforced by public cloud technology and agile partnerships, extends beyond infrastructure—it serves as a lifeline to the world’s unconnected, offering vital support in times of need. For CXOs considering disaster recovery planning, the flexibility and scalability of public cloud technology are pivotal, enabling the rapid restoration of critical systems post-disruption. By harnessing these technologies and forming strategic partnerships, telecoms organizations can efficiently navigate humanitarian crises, ensuring aid reaches those in greatest need.