Telecoms and internet outages make it very apparent how interconnected the world is. From GPS to mobile banking to emergency responses, most services that rely on digital connectivity are vulnerable to failure when systems go down.
That’s why Vodafone has fast-tracked the introduction of a new network resilience programme – the Vodafone Enhanced Power initiative. The programme is designed to boost resilience for emergency and critical online services, public safety, as well as maintain connectivity of vital services for its mobile customers across Europe and Africa, in the event of a major outage.
Accelerate rollout of AI and backup power
The increasing frequency of climate-related disasters and power grid instability in many regions highlights the need for greater power resilience in communications infrastructure supporting critical emergency services. Power outages have many causes, including floods, wildfires, earthquakes, or blackout incidents, which can affect local areas, regions, or entire countries. Although extended major outages are rare across Europe, last summer’s extreme weather is predicted to leave a €126 billion dent in the EU’s economy by 2029.
The launch of the Vodafone Enhanced Power initiative was accelerated after a significant power blackout in April 2025 affected essential services such as telecommunications, transportation, and banking in Portugal and certain regions of Spain and France. At the peak of the power outage, about 60% of mobile users in Portugal lost connectivity or struggled to connect.
The primary objective of the Vodafone Enhanced Power initiative is to further enhance the resilience in more than 10,000 critical mobile infrastructure sites that support emergency services across Europe. It is being rolled out throughout Vodafone’s European markets over the next two years, starting with Portugal.
The initiative is based on both existing temporary backup systems and innovative software-based solutions using artificial intelligence (AI) to predict, control and conserve backup time as long as possible. Power supplies are designed to best handle an outage depending on its severity and size on local, regional, and national levels. All the solutions also aim to reduce current CO2 emission levels.
Local, regional and national response units
TR earthquake
For smaller localised outages, which typically affects up to 10 mobile sites, Vodafone will continue to use portable solutions known as Cells on Wheels (COW). This will be complemented by Vodafone’s unique Instant Network Emergency Response, providing free Wi-Fi and phone charging stations during disaster relief efforts. Several Vodafone engineers form part of the Instant Network Emergency Response (INER) team. Since 2012, the INER programme has deployed to over 28 disasters worldwide and recently supported in Jamaica after the outbreak of Hurricane Melissa.
To tackle wider regional blackouts, affecting tens or more than a hundred mobile sites, Vodafone will draw on its arsenal of temporary and back up units, as well as deploy Adaptive Power Backup. This is a new AI-controlled intelligent technique to remotely extend the base station battery backup time, potentially doubling it in certain scenarios.
Vodafone has also drawn up a more comprehensive network resilience and power backup plan in the case of a national or cross-border blackout. In addition to reinforcing over 10,000 critical sites across Europe, Vodafone is initially prioritising the following network areas:
Core mobile sites: Commonly known as the “brain” of a mobile network, it comprises of over 400 mobile data centres and large backbone sites located across EU countries. These facilities are equipped with battery backups and diesel generators, providing a minimum of 72 hours of backup power or guaranteed refuelling support within at least 48 hours.
Aggregation mobile sites: Ensuring a minimum of four hours of backup power for key locations that serve as network junctions to route customer data efficiently. The four-hour battery specification for aggregation sites is a conservative estimate based on maximum site load.
Critical Access Sites: Over 10,000 essential radio and backhaul access sites in Europe supporting mobile coverage for emergency services, command and control centres, hospitals, government offices, airports, and other major transport hubs, will be equipped with a minimum of four hours’ backup power. This is the first phase of a wider programme to equip many more sites with the latest generation of battery technology.
Vodafone is also looking to space to build resilience by connecting everyday smartphones and other cellular devices of emergency responders via satellite, even in the most dangerous and challenging environments.
AI to the rescue
In support of the resilience initiative, Vodafone has launched an AI-driven Adaptive Power Backup service in Greece, and is trialling it in Turkey, before deploying to additional markets during 2026. The system uses AI to predict outages and optimise power consumption which enables nearly twice the backup duration and ensures emergency services remain connected three times longer than the industry standard.
It works by remotely and autonomously shutting down non-essential equipment or putting it into a low-energy state (cell sleep mode) whilst leaving open crucial channels for emergency services, voice calls and text messages.
The use of AI will help mitigate the intensive capital outlay required to deploy additional backup batteries, which would also divert resources for network upgrades. Just mandating 4-hour backup at every telecom site belonging to all operators in the UK would require a one-time investment of between £2.2–4.4 billion (€2.6–5.2 billion), according to a study by the regulator Ofcom, with similar proportional costs predicted across Europe.
It is for this reason that Vodafone is also exploring novel ways to pool resources with other operators and electricity providers. By partnering with aggregators, mobile operators can combine assets to participate in various electricity markets, utilising idle capacity and generating revenue through energy trading using Virtual Power Plant (VPP) services. Business customers, and even consumers, could participate in the scheme. Although collaborative schemes offer financial and environmental benefits, most European markets—except Germany, Ireland, and the UK—have yet to develop them fully. Government incentives are necessary to drive further reform and investment in this area.
As part of the programme, Vodafone’s African business Vodacom is turning to AI to overcome industry-wide challenges of keeping mobile sites switched on even during frequent load-shedding (temporary shutdown of electricity to certain areas to prevent the collapse of the entire power grid). The company has developed a strategy centered on two pillars: integrating renewable energy sources and leveraging AI to optimise generator load factors.
Vodacom’s AI-on-the-edge solution prioritises energy sources intelligently during load-shedding, reducing diesel runtime and ensuring base stations operate on the most cost-effective energy source without compromising network availability. Initial results have led to a 10%–15% reduction in the use of diesel and lowered operational costs, minimised site visits, and improved the customer experience.
Aligned with European framework
Vodafone’s resilience programme is also fully aligned with the European Union’s evolving cybersecurity and infrastructure protection framework. Vodafone welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with Brussels and national authorities to ensure compliance, accelerate implementation, and explore co-funding opportunities where appropriate.
The most effective way to ensure network resilience is through targeted upgrades at critical sites, complemented by public investment in the power grid to support both Europe’s telecoms sector competitiveness and Europe’s digital ambitions.
Operators alone cannot bear the full burden of these initiatives. To ensure success and sustainability, the industry needs support from governments through dedicated funding and policy alignment. This partnership is critical to delivering the infrastructure and innovation that Europe requires, and maintaining it during any major power outage.
