Disaster-proof broadband: Keep your networks strong when nature unleashes her fury

By Mike Vermeer / Panduit

Extreme weather events have been wreaking havoc on broadband infrastructure, disrupting connectivity and slowing recovery efforts.

Hurricane Milton led to significant outages across Florida with more than 1.27 million cable and wireline subscribers losing service. In North Carolina, residents faced the severe impacts of Hurricane Helene, while California’s destructive wildfires have further exposed the vulnerabilities of our digital networks. 

Whether facing hurricanes, severe flooding, fire, wind and ice storms, ISPs must plan for resilience and swift restoration. From strategic material selection to ensuring reliable supply chains, preparation is key. Here’s how:

Planning and design: Build for resilience

Material matters

In calm weather conditions, most broadband materials perform well at best, adequately at worst. However, when the temperature drops, ice can form and wind speeds accelerate, so material integrity becomes a critical factor. Choosing high-quality materials — especially those manufactured with plastics — can mean the difference between a network that withstands the elements and one that fails under pressure.

• Heat sensitivity: When exposed to high temperatures, some plastics experience molecular breakdown, becoming brittle over time—like what happens when low-quality plastics are repeatedly placed in the dishwasher. 
• Cold fragility: Low-durability plastics also become brittle in cold temperatures, making them prone to cracking and failure.
• End-to-end material selection: From cable ties to closures, every component in a network must be chosen with durability in mind.

Recovery: Restore connectivity quickly:

Look for supply chain reliability

When a storm hits, ISPs need more than just a large stockpile of materials—they need a dependable supply chain that can respond in real time. Ordering bulk shipments months in advance may work for planned projects, but when disaster strikes, the ability to quickly procure additional necessary materials is critical.

·       On-demand availability: During an emergency, waiting for a month to receive a bulk shipment does little good. Providers need supply chain partners who can deliver materials exactly when and where they are needed.

·       Partnering for success: Because you’ll need rapid delivery of materials during a crisis, look for companies like Panduit which prioritize a world-class supply chain, and manufacture their products and maintain global warehouses in strategic locations in the South and Midwest.

Trust your deployment partners

A broadband network designed to withstand extreme conditions should come with the confidence that, if failure occurs, outside support will be immediate and effective. Providers must ensure they work with trusted partners who stand behind their products and services.

• Reliable vendors and contractors: When network failures occur due to product or workmanship issues, vendors and contractors should be aligned in their commitment to recovery efforts.
• Coordinated execution: Teams must work together from material selection through deployment validation, ensuring the network is resilient from day one.

As broadband infrastructure is the backbone of connectivity, extreme weather should not be a reason for prolonged outages.

Through meticulous planning, careful material selection, and strong supplier and deployment partnerships, ISPs can mitigate risk and expedite recovery. When a disaster strikes, you’ll have confidence that your network will stans strong and your customers stay connected.