Mobile Network Power Outage 2026 — New OFCOM Obligations Switzerland

What happens when the power fails in your neighbourhood or across your region — does your mobile phone still work? The answer depends on whether the nearest mobile site has backup power. With the revised Ordinance on Telecommunications Services (FDV), the Federal Council tightens the obligations of Swiss providers: from 1 March 2026, Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt and all MVNOs must guarantee at least one hour of emergency operation for emergency calls. By 2034, emergency operation must be expanded step by step to a robust nationwide level.

This guide explains neutrally and verifiably what the new Mobile Network Power Outage rules specifically require in Switzerland, where the limits are — and how you, your family and your parents can prepare realistically for a blackout.

Key Takeaways

• Legal framework: The FDV revision (SR 784.101.1) concretises the security-of-supply obligation from the Telecommunications Act (FMG, SR 784.10). From 1 March 2026, providers must ensure that emergency calls (112, 117, 118, 144, 143, 145) remain possible at a minimum number of sites, even during a regional power outage.
• Minimum emergency operation: Per prioritised antenna sector, providers must maintain at least 1 hour of battery backup from 2026; by 2034, the reserve duration in the emergency network must be expanded to up to 4 hours. The target is 99 per cent municipal coverage with at least one backup-power-capable site.
• Concept of «emergency network»: During a blackout, carriers reduce data services, prioritise voice and emergency calls. Streaming, app updates and background data services are throttled; SMS and prioritised emergency voice connections remain reachable as long as possible.
• Personal preparation remains central: The smartphone itself needs power. A charged power bank from 10'000 mAh, the Alertswiss app, the most important numbers on paper, and a battery-powered radio (FM/DAB+) for SRG SSR emergency information belong in every Swiss household — independent of what providers deliver.

Why mobile networks fail during power outages

Mobile base stations consume electricity for transmitters, backhaul connection, cooling and control. In normal operation, the power grid delivers constant energy. If the power grid fails, sites without backup power shut down within minutes — reception in the cell disappears, calls drop, data services collapse.

In Switzerland, the entire mobile network consumes around 1.1 per cent of national electricity consumption according to industry estimates (per OFCOM reporting). That sounds small but represents thousands of sites from urban high-rises to alpine antennas. Without backup energy, these sites suddenly go silent during a blackout.

Switzerland has experienced several short power outages and shortage exercises in recent years (particularly within the framework of the National Economic Supply NES). It became visible: Voluntary backup power investments by providers are unevenly distributed — urban sites are better equipped than peripheral alpine valleys. The FDV revision creates uniform minimum requirements for the first time, combined with fines of up to CHF 1 million per violation according to the FMG penalty framework.

FDV obligations from 1 March 2026 in detail

The Federal Council has anchored several interlocking obligations as part of the FDV revision. They concern the reserve obligation for emergency operation, the prioritisation of emergency calls, and the reporting obligation to OFCOM.

Phased model 2026 to 2034

Switzerland operates over 3'400 mobile sites according to industry estimates. Nationwide retrofitting with battery or hybrid backup (battery plus generator or fuel cell) requires multi-year investment programmes. Providers must coordinate site access with property owners, municipalities and heritage protection — hence the extension to 2034.

Technical minimum requirements

For a site to be considered FDV-compliant, providers must secure several components:

• Power supply: Battery backup (UPS) or combined solution with stationary or mobile emergency generator
• Backhaul resilience: The fibre or microwave link must also be backup-power-capable — an antenna with backup power is useless if the connection to the core network is missing
• Emergency call prioritisation: Voice emergency calls to 112, 117, 118, 144, 143 and 145 must be routed with priority
• Data throttling: Streaming, app updates and non-essential data traffic are reduced during scarcity to preserve battery capacity for voice services
• Reporting obligation: Providers periodically report incidents and compliance status to OFCOM

What does the «emergency network» mean in practice?

During a large-scale power outage in Switzerland, providers activate a reduced operating mode often described as «emergency network». It is not a separate network but a mode in which the existing network is throttled to the absolute minimum.

What typically works in the emergency network

• Voice telephony, in particular the emergency numbers 112, 117, 118, 144, 143, 145
• SMS short messages, since they require little bandwidth
• Cell Broadcast alerting via Alertswiss (Federal Office for Civil Protection)

What is limited or stopped

• Mobile data (4G/5G internet) — throttled or temporarily shut down
• Streaming and video calls — typically blocked
• Background synchronisation (cloud, app push, automatic updates) — stopped

The exact throttling logic is at the carriers' discretion and may differ between Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt. What they all share: emergency calls have priority over any other communication.

Reality check: What happens after emergency operation expires?

When the backup power reserve is exhausted at a site — that is, after 1 hour in the 2026 phase or up to 4 hours in the 2034 full-implementation phase — the antenna shuts off. There is then no reception in the cell until either grid power returns or providers deploy mobile emergency sites (called «Cells on Wheels», COW).

For you as a user this means: The FDV guarantees a minimum emergency operation, not continuous availability over the entire duration of a blackout. People in high-risk situations (care dependency, medical devices with mobile connection, remote residence) should take additional precautionary measures.

Urban vs rural: Where protection arrives earlier and better

The FDV obligation applies nationwide, but implementation density is not distributed identically. Three factors determine how quickly and reliably emergency operation takes effect in your region:

• Antenna density: In urban areas like Zurich, Geneva, Basel or Bern, multiple sites are within each square kilometre. If one fails, neighbouring sites often pick up the load. In rural or alpine areas, density is lower — the failure of a single site can leave entire valleys «mute».
• Carrier investment priority: Providers typically begin rollout in agglomerations, because customer mass, reputational risk and regulatory pressure are highest there. Peripheral locations follow later.
• Backhaul topology: Alpine sites are often connected via line-of-sight microwave links. If the intermediate station fails, the mountain antenna is decoupled, even if it independently has backup power.

For mountain regions, scattered settlements and peripheral valleys, additional precaution is therefore recommended: check analogue fixed-line (if still present) as backup, define meeting-point routines with neighbours and family, possibly emergency radio receiver (e.g. battery/crank FM radio).

How to prepare concretely

Even if providers meet their FDV obligations 100 per cent, your personal preparation remains the decisive factor. The Federal Council has recommended a minimum standard of emergency reserve through FOCP and Alertswiss for years — the mobile component can be clearly supplemented.

Step 1: Secure smartphone reserve

Your phone is useless if the battery is empty. A power bank with 10'000 mAh provides approximately two full charges for most modern smartphones. It fits in a jacket pocket, costs between CHF 30 and 60 and weighs under 250 g.

For families or longer scenarios, larger models are recommended:

Look for USB-C Power Delivery (PD) from 18 W, integrated overload and short-circuit protection, and check every three months whether the power bank charges fully. Solar functionality is nice to look at but rarely the decisive factor in Swiss reality (winter, clouds, indoor storage).

Step 2: Install Alertswiss

Alertswiss is the official alerting channel of the Confederation. The FOCP app sends warnings, behavioural instructions and situation updates even when the conventional mobile network is congested, because it can fall back on separate alerting infrastructure (Cell Broadcast). Activate all notifications — for your home region and for regular places of stay.

Step 3: Emergency numbers on paper

Note these numbers on a card (wallet, pinboard, fridge). Digitally stored contacts are useless if the phone is off.

Step 4: Information outside the mobile network

Keep a battery-powered FM/DAB+ radio on hand. SRG SSR (SRF, RTS, RSI) operates redundant transmitters that continue to work even during longer blackouts — the medium-wave emergency radio chain is part of national crisis communication. Combination devices with solar/crank function are suitable for emergency reserve sets.

Step 5: Family emergency plan

Agree with your family on a meeting point and a communication backup plan for the case where mobile telephony collapses in your region. Example: «If no contact is possible after two hours, we meet in front of grandmother's house / at the neighbourhood square.» The same applies to older parents or care-dependent persons — define who checks on them first during a blackout.

Swiss providers compared

All three mobile operators must meet the FDV obligations from March 2026. There is no «better emergency brand»; protection depends on antenna density and implementation phase.

For comparisons of 5G and premium mobile plans, see our guide on Swiss mobile plans and mobile internet. For complementary information on OFCOM regulation, read our guide on Call Spoofing Protection Switzerland 2026.

VoLTE and 3G shutdown: What to know about older phones

In parallel with the FDV revision, the shutdown of the 2G and 3G networks is progressing. Swisscom already shut down 2G in 2020; the gradual 3G shutdown is underway in several countries — in Switzerland it is scheduled individually by provider. For emergency calls this means: devices without VoLTE (Voice over LTE) can no longer establish a voice connection after local 3G shutdown in the corresponding cell — not even an emergency call.

In practice: Older feature phones and smartphones (typically pre-2016/2017) or cheap travel SIMs without a VoLTE profile should be replaced before a blackout. You can check this yourself: Look in phone settings for «VoLTE», «Voice over LTE» or «Calls over 4G». If the option exists and is enabled, your device is future-proof.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will my phone definitely work during a power outage from March 2026?

It is a minimum obligation, not a 100 per cent guarantee. Providers must ensure at least 1 hour of emergency-call operation at prioritised sites. Prerequisite: charged phone and presence in the sector of a compliant site. Full coverage will be expanded step by step until 2034.

Does the classic landline work during a blackout?

Analogue landline phones (POTS) were classically powered by the telephone network itself and worked without house current. In Switzerland, Swisscom largely converted analogue telephony to All-IP in 2017/2018 — today's fixed lines run via a router that needs house current. If the power fails, the fixed line is also silent unless you have a UPS.

Which number do I dial if I don't know which service is responsible?

The 112 is the European-wide emergency number and routes you in Switzerland to the regionally responsible emergency centre. It works without a SIM card too, provided a mobile network is reachable.

Can I make emergency calls abroad?

Yes. The 112 works in all EU countries and many other countries. Mobile devices usually allow an emergency call even without a SIM or without your own network available (emergency roaming).

What does the Confederation do during a large-scale blackout?

The Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) coordinates crisis communication. Alertswiss sends alerts via app, web and Cell Broadcast. SRG SSR continues broadcasting via FM/DAB+/medium wave, the cantonal command staffs (KFS) take over regional steering. The Federal Office for National Economic Supply (FONES) is additionally responsible for shortage scenarios for electricity, fuel and telecommunications.

Should I get a satellite phone?

For urban residence with good antenna density, this is usually overdimensioned. It becomes sensible for people who regularly travel in remote alpine regions (huts, alpine farming, mountain rescue), for care-giving relatives in scattered settlements, or for specific professional requirements. Entry-level satellite communicators (with Bluetooth smartphone pairing) start at around CHF 200 to 400 hardware plus tariff.

Where can I report unavailability incidents?

Mobile network disruptions can be reported to your provider (hotline, app). Systematic weaknesses are published by OFCOM via official channels and in annual market reports. Consumer complaints about emergency-call availability are additionally received by ombudscom (Telecommunications Conciliation Body).

Glossary of important terms

• FDV (Ordinance on Telecommunications Services, SR 784.101.1): Swiss regulatory ordinance to FMG, governs provider obligations
• FMG (Telecommunications Act, SR 784.10): Swiss federal law on telecommunications regulation
• OFCOM: Federal Office of Communications, supervisory authority for telecoms and media (bakom.admin.ch)
• FOCP: Federal Office for Civil Protection, operates Alertswiss (babs.admin.ch)
• FONES: Federal Office for National Economic Supply, responsible for shortage scenarios
• VoLTE: Voice over LTE, voice service over 4G network, replaces 2G/3G voice operation
• MVNO: Mobile Virtual Network Operator, provider without own network, uses host network
• UPS: Uninterruptible Power Supply (battery system)
• COW: Cell on Wheels, mobile emergency station brought to affected regions by truck

Conclusion: Law plays its role, preparation remains personal

The FDV revision from 1 March 2026 is a step forward: For the first time, Swiss mobile providers have clearly defined, binding minimum obligations for emergency operation. Emergency calls to 112, 117, 118, 144 and 143 should remain possible during a blackout at prioritised sites — initially for at least 1 hour, in perspective up to 4 hours by 2034 with 99 per cent municipal coverage.

At the same time, the FDV is not a free pass for carelessness. It regulates the minimum at network level. What it cannot replace: a charged phone battery, a charged power bank, an Alertswiss installation, a battery-powered radio, and a family emergency plan. Those living in remote regions or with vulnerable relatives plan additionally at their own expense.

Our recommendation in four points:

• Power bank from 10'000 mAh charged and labelled — check every three months
• Install the Alertswiss app and activate push notifications
• Emergency numbers on paper on pinboard and in wallet
• Family meeting point and check the VoLTE status of the phone once