Strategy for electronic communication 2003-2005 - A summary - PTS-ER-2003:13

31/03/2003

Summary

The Government has commissioned the National Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) to present for the telecommunications a strategy for the work to reduce consequences for society of severe peacetime emergencies and increase the preparedness to face a state of national alert and war. The strategy should cover the years 2003-2005.

PTS has chosen to include all forms of electronic communication in the notion of telecommunications. PTS’s interpretation of the commission is that the desired strategy should define principles for the work to reduce vulnerability and increase robustness of the electronic communications.

A specific measure to increase security is often effective to reduce consequences to society of severe peacetime emergencies as well as to increase preparedness to face a state of national alert and war. Important areas in which measures should be taken are therefore presented without being classified as targeting specifically severe peacetime emergencies or a state of national alert and war.

PTS presents a goal for the protection of electronic communications during severe peacetime emergencies, a state of national alert and war. This goal is a specification made by PTS based on current general goals for society’s safety and preparedness.

PTS presents principles for public/private cooperation regarding safety in electronic communications. Such cooperation should be based on the forms of electronic communication that under normal conditions and free competition evolve in society. The purpose of cooperation with individual actors should be to increase their consciousness of the demands of severe emergencies and to find suitable complementary measures to ensure the protection of electronic communications in times of severe peacetime emergencies, a state of national alert and war.

A number of areas are presented in which PTS considers it to be of special importance to take measures. For each area a purpose, a directive of the measures and examples are presented.

The areas are:

1. Stimulation of an increased user responsibility concerning electronic communications
2. Increased redundancy and flexibility in networks
3. Improved protection against physical and electromagnetic threats
4. Reduced sensibility to information operations and measures to counter them
5. A more secure power supply and increased cooperation between the areas of power distribution and telecommunication
6. Support to strengthening of inner security
7. More profound international cooperation
8. Increased ability to manage crises within electronic communications
9. Review of the operational security achieved in the networks of electronic communication

PTS also presents principles for prioritization between measures.