Who is Most at Risk?
People who rely heavily on mobile or internet services — including those who work from home, use online banking, or depend on digital health services — are most affected. Elderly people or those with limited access to alternative communication methods may be particularly vulnerable during an outage.
Before
- Keep a battery-powered or wind-up radio at home — GBC Radio (91.3 FM / 1458 AM) broadcasts official emergency information and does not rely on the internet.
- Store key phone numbers in written form — including family, your doctor, and emergency contacts — in case your phone battery dies or digital contact lists are inaccessible.
- Keep a basic mobile phone charged and topped up as a backup if your primary device relies on data services.
- Know your local area and how to reach important places on foot or by memory, without relying on map apps.
- If you run a business, ensure you have offline backups of essential data and an alternative communication plan.
- Let neighbours or family know how to reach you in person if digital communication fails.
During
- Try to contact people via landline if your mobile network is down — landlines often work independently of mobile networks.
- Use Wi-Fi calling if your mobile signal is down but your internet connection is still working — many devices and apps support this.
- Move to a different location if you need a signal — higher ground or a different part of Gibraltar may have better coverage.
- In a genuine emergency, if you cannot reach 999 by phone, go to your nearest police station, fire station or call for help from a neighbour.
- Listen to GBC Radio for official updates and information.
- Avoid making unnecessary calls — keep lines clear for those who need help urgently.
After
- Once service is restored, check in with any vulnerable people you were unable to contact during the outage.
- Report persistent faults to your service provider.
- Review your backup communication plan and update any stored contact numbers if needed.