Telecommunications and digital infrastructure play an essential role in Ireland’s economy, society, and connectivity. Terrestrial networks, subsea cables, data centres, cloud infrastructure, radio spectrum, and satellite systems enable the functioning of our financial services, technology ecosystem, and pharmaceutical and medtech sectors, as well as government services such as healthcare, policing, and defence. Yet, in an increasingly turbulent geopolitical environment, this infrastructure is at a growing risk.

From suspicious incidents of cable damage in Europe to drone attacks on data centres in the Middle East, telecommunications is now a target. Developing a robust telecommunications ecosystem will be central to ensuring societal resilience during times of crisis. Yet, regulatory, planning, and permitting requirements have created a degree of uncertainty that impacts on investment in telecommunications resilience.

This IIEA paper, supported by Vodafone, identifies how Government and industry can work together to overcome obstacles to resilience, and to develop a telecommunications ecosystem that is resilient enough for our increasingly uncertain world.