GSMA has said that climate-related damage to mobile telecommunications infrastructure could cost operators more than $3 billion annually by 2050, nearly double current losses, as severe storms and floods increasingly threaten network infrastructure.
Mobile operators currently incur about $1.7 billion annually in costs to repair and replace cell-site infrastructure damaged by severe weather. Storms account for approximately $1 billion of the annual losses, a figure that could rise to $2.4 billion by 2050, the industry association said in its report, Futureproofing Connectivity: Climate Risk and Resilience in Telecommunications.
The analysis of more than 50 countries found that major storms and floods coincided with an average of about 150 telecommunications outages annually between 2022 and 2024, directly affecting just under 215 million service users each year.
The rising costs are putting pressure on telecommunications operators to strengthen infrastructure against extreme weather while maintaining investment in network expansion and connectivity. The GSMA said the financial projections cover damage to mobile cell sites but exclude losses involving fixed networks, wildfires, extreme heat, lost revenue, service restoration and higher insurance premiums.
“Severe weather is already costing the industry billions of dollars, and those costs are set to rise substantially,” said John Giusti, the GSMA’s chief regulatory officer and president of the GSMA Foundation. Building resilience will require coordinated action among operators, governments and other infrastructure providers, he said.
Power supply is emerging as a major vulnerability for telecommunications networks. Severe weather frequently disrupts mobile services through electricity outages rather than direct damage to network equipment, highlighting operators’ dependence on energy infrastructure, transport networks and fuel supplies.
Operators have invested in backup power, redundant connections, emergency roaming arrangements and rapid-response capabilities. But the GSMA said these measures cannot fully address risks arising from infrastructure outside the telecommunications industry’s control.
The association has introduced five policy principles urging governments and regulators to adopt flexible, investment-friendly approaches to network resilience. The recommendations include outcome-based regulation, incorporating resilience into network design, consulting operators before imposing new obligations, coordinating emergency planning across infrastructure sectors and ensuring transparent communication during disruptions.
The GSMA also called for regulatory certainty and proportionate resilience requirements, warning that obligations exceeding operators’ existing risk-based investment plans may require government incentives, funding or cost-recovery mechanisms.
Mobile networks have become essential infrastructure for businesses, emergency services and public institutions, making prolonged outages a growing economic and national security concern as climate-related risks intensify.
