Bridging the communication gap: A sociotechnical analysis of network resilience and community impact during the Aleppo earthquake (2023)

This study provides a socio-technical analysis of cellular network resilience in Aleppo, Syria, during the catastrophic February 2023 earthquake—a city already grappling with protracted conflict. We quantitatively measure the network's ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from seismic shocks by evaluating key performance indicators across its tower infrastructure. Using a quantitative case study methodology, we develop a composite resilience index inspired by the Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis (RIMA-II) model, integrating three core dimensions: Availability, Shock Severity, and Recovery Time. Analysis of Syriatel network data reveals generally high resilience (84% of towers), yet identifies critical spatial disparities with pockets of low resilience (3%) in vulnerable neighborhoods. Worst-affected areas required up to 15 days for full recovery, demonstrating a strong correlation between shock Severity and recovery time. Solar-powered towers exhibited marginally higher stability in this study, underscoring alternative energy's potential role in operational resilience, although the difference was not statistically significant. This research provides one of the first empirical, data-driven assessments of telecommunication resilience in a complex, active crisis zone. Beyond technical metrics, it highlights how communication blackouts exacerbate social vulnerability, offering evidence-based insights for disaster risk management, critical infrastructure protection, and community-centered recovery planning.