Longyearbyen · 78.22 N 15.63 E

Svalbard Wire

Est. 2026

Everything said about Svalbard, in one place

Thursday 29 October 2026No. 4Graphic

Back to the front of 29 October

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.

Mobile network
Read what the sources say about

HearReadAsk

Schematic drawing of Longyearbyen. Hear: a broadcast mast sends waves to a radio in a house. Read: a phone in a hand shows saved emergency information. Ask: a path leads to the orange door of Kulturhuset, and a line leads on to emergency services.BroadcastKULTURHUSETEmergencyservicesEmergencyinformationstored on the phoneupdates when onlineNo signal
Mobile networkOnOffTap to switch
Schematic drawing of Longyearbyen. Hear: a broadcast mast sends waves to a radio in a house. Read: a phone in a hand shows saved emergency information. Ask: a path leads to the orange door of Kulturhuset, and a line leads on to emergency services.BroadcastKULTURHUSETEmergency servicesEmergencyinformationstored on the phoneupdates when onlineNo signal
Mobile networkOnOffTap to switch

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

Graphic: Svalbard Wire · Sources: Longyearbyen lokalstyre, DSB, NRK. Every quote is checked on its page by the Wire's retrieval script, last on 26 October 2026.