Svalbard Longyearbyen lokalstyre marks Personal Preparedness Week 2026
This week is Personal Preparedness Week (Egenberedskapsuka). This year's theme is loss of mobile network and internet, and Longyearbyen lokalstyre (the local council) is using the occasion to put the focus on personal preparedness.
At the same time, a new function is being launched in the residents' app that gives residents access to important emergency preparedness information, also without an internet connection.
The app contains emergency numbers, duty phone numbers, emergency preparedness information and advice on personal preparedness, among other things.
DSB (the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection) and Nasjonal kommunikasjonsmyndighet (Nkom, the Norwegian Communications Authority) have produced seven simple pieces of advice that make it easier to get important information and to stay in touch with others if there are problems with the mobile network or the internet. Here are four of them:
Be a preparedness buddy.
Get a DAB radio.
Charge power banks and equipment.
Consider a subscription with different mobile networks.
All the advice can be read at www.dsb.no/ekombortfall
Longyearbyen
When the signal disappears.
When the mobile network and internet go down, word can still reach you in three ways: radio can still be heard, the pages saved on your phone can still be opened, and at Kulturhuset you can ask in person.
Graphic: Svalbard Wire · Sources: Longyearbyen lokalstyre, DSB, NRK. Illustrations are schematic.Hover or tap the drawing to explore.
Hear · 01 Radio: DAB and NRK on AM
A separate network.
DAB
A DAB radio uses its own broadcast network; one that runs on batteries, solar cells or a crank can bring you important information from the authorities even if the internet is down and the power goes.
Longyearbyen has DAB coverage for radio, as does the mainland.DAB-radio bruker et eget kringkastingsnett. Med en DAB-radio som går på batterier, solceller eller sveiv kan du få viktig informasjon fra myndighetene selv om internett er nede og strømmen blir borte.NRK on AM
NRK is available on AM radio throughout Svalbard for information and emergency purposes.
In 2019 NRK said an extra way to receive radio is wanted for preparedness reasons, and that it will renew and upgrade the AM transmitter on Svalbard and continue it as Norway's last AM station.
For information and emergency purposes, NRK is available on AM radio throughout Svalbard.I tillegg er det ønskelig med en ekstra mottaksteknologi av beredskapsmessige hensyn.NRK vil derfor fornye og oppgradere AM-anlegget (fra 1000watt til 3000watt) på Svalbard samt videreføre denne som Norges siste AM-stasjon.Sources: DSB, when phone and internet go down; Longyearbyen lokalstyre, New in Longyearbyen; NRK, letter to the Ministry of Culture, 11 June 2019 (copy hosted by Radio Nordkapp), retrieved 26 October 2026
Read · 02 The council's app
Saved on the phone.
The information is stored on the phone and can be opened even when the network is down. It updates automatically when the phone is connected to the internet. You find it under Beredskap (emergency preparedness) on the front page of the council's app.
Informasjonen lagres på telefonen og kan åpnes også når nettet er nede.Oppdateres automatisk når telefonen er tilkoblet internett.Du finner det under Beredskap på forsiden av innbyggerappen.Source: Longyearbyen lokalstyre, 23 October 2026, retrieved 26 October 2026
Ask · 03 Kulturhuset
A door you can go to.
If there is an emergency and you cannot use a phone or the internet, you can turn up at Kulturhuset. People from the council there can alert the emergency services to your situation, and they will be available to answer questions.
Hvis det oppstår en nødssituasjon, og det ikke er mulig å bruke telefon eller internett kan du møte opp på Longyearbyen kulturhus.På Kulturhuset vil du møte representanter fra Longyearbyen lokalstyre som kan varsle nødetatene om situasjonen din.Representanter fra Longyearbyen lokalstyre vil være tilgjengelige for å svare på eventuelle spørsmål.Source: Longyearbyen lokalstyre, meeting point when phone and internet are down, retrieved 26 October 2026
Needs the network · Emergency alert
Needs 4G or 5G.
In a serious situation with acute danger to life and health, you can get the emergency alert on mobile phones. It requires 4G or 5G coverage.
Ved en alvorlig situasjon med akutt fare for liv og helse, kan du få et nødvarsel til din mobiltelefon. Det forutsetter at du har 4G- eller 5G-dekning.Source: DSB, alerts in a crisis, retrieved 26 October 2026
Needs the network · The council's SMS alert
Sent through base stations.
The council's alerts are sent out via base stations to everyone who is in a given area.
Varslingene vil sendes ut via basestasjoner til alle som oppholder seg i et bestemt geografisk område.Source: Longyearbyen lokalstyre, public alerts, retrieved 26 October 2026
Needs the network · App update
Updates when connected.
The emergency information in the council's app updates automatically when the phone is connected to the internet.
Oppdateres automatisk når telefonen er tilkoblet internett.Source: Longyearbyen lokalstyre, 23 October 2026, retrieved 26 October 2026
Longyearbyen's emergency and duty numbers, on one card to print and keep.
Emergency
Hospital and Governor
- Hospital and out-of-hours doctorLongyearbyen sykehus/legevakt
- 76 17 33 00
- The GovernorSysselmesteren på Svalbard
- 79 02 43 00
Duty phones
- Fire service duty phoneBrann, Vakttelefon
- 911 09 700
- Power: Svalbard Energi control roomSvalbard Energi AS, Kontrollrom vakttelefon
- 79 02 23 50911 09 750
- Power: electrician on callElektrikervakt
- 960 00 596
- District heatingFjernvarmeweekdays 08:00 to 16:00
- 79 02 35 09
- District heating, outside working hours: plumber on callFjernvarme, utenfor arbeidstid: rørleggervakt
- 900 42 509
- Water and sewage: plumber on callVann og avløp, rørleggervakt
- 900 42 509
- Roads: snow-clearing duty phoneBrøytevakttelefonfrom 1 October to 31 May; when you call, press for the administration on-call
- 79 02 49 50
- Harbour duty phoneVakttelefon Longyearbyen havn
- 911 22 300
- Building technicians on callDriftsteknikervakt
- 414 26 612
Help lines
- Child welfare serviceLongyearbyen barneverntjeneste
- 79 02 23 05902 36 112
- Helpline for children and young peopleAlarmtelefon for barn og unge
- 116 111
- Child welfare duty, open day and nightBarnevernvakta (døgnåpen)
- 79 02 23 05
- Public health nurse, Longyearbyen hospitalHelsesykepleier, Longyearbyen sykehus
- 76 17 33 00
- Svalbard churchSvalbard kirke
- 79 02 55 60
- Youth coordinatorUngdomskoordinator
- 483 56 238
- Educational psychology servicePPT, pedagogisk psykologisk tjeneste
- 453 30 111
- School social worker or form teacherMiljøarbeider på skolen /kontaktlærer
- 79 02 39 00