TELECOMS MUST PREPARE BETTER

The recent AT&T network outage left countless individuals and businesses stranded in a sea of silence, disconnected from the world when they needed connectivity the most. Such disruptions not only inconvenience but also clearly reminds us of our high dependency on digital lifelines for basic communication, emergency services, and economic activities.

This issue is far from trivial; it sheds light on a larger problem within our telecommunication infrastructure's resilience to unforeseen failures. In an era where connectivity is as essential as electricity or water, the vulnerability of our networks poses a critical risk to public safety and economic stability.

One could argue that the root of this problem lies in the lack of strict regulatory frameworks that demand rigorous redundancy and disaster recovery plans from major service providers. Moreover, the incident underscores the need for greater transparency in communication from AT&T, ensuring affected customers are not left in the dark but are provided with timely updates and support.

As a society, we must advocate for policy changes that enforce higher standards of reliability and accountability among telecommunications providers. Furthermore, this outage serves as an important reminder of the need for greater investment such as a decentralized network could offer a buffer, reducing the impact of such disruptions in the future.

In conclusion, the recent AT&T outage should serve as a wake-up call, re-evaluate and strengthen our telecommunication infrastructure. In my opinion, it is imperative that our service providers, ensures that connectivity, a service as vital as any utility, is reliable, resilient, and robust enough to withstand the challenges of tomorrow. Baalakrishna Seetapah, UPEI student, Charlottetown, P.E.I.