For quick collection of data from network of surface and upper air observing stations, ships on high seas, aircraft reports, radar observations, forecasts and warnings and their dissemination the department maintains an extensive telecommunication network connecting all the meteorological offices and data collection centres. 

 
(i) Collection and distribution of National Data

Basic data from the observatories are collected at 19 Meteorological Centres or Regional Meteorological centres in the country, by means of departmental telecom.  facilities and land-line telegrammes.  The stations whose data are exchanged on Global Telecommunication System have radio-telephone links. Important observatories have been provided with back-up telecommunication facility.

(ii) Collection of Ships Observations

Observations from ships on high seas are collected at the Regional Collecting Centres at Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai through coastal radio Stations of the Department of Telecommunications.

(iii) Exchange of Aeronautical Meteorological Messages

Although aeronautical meteorological messages are handled primarily by the AFTN network of the Airports Authority of India, a limited teleprinter network has been set up in this important section in order to supplement the AFTN.  A teleprinter loop connects the international airports at Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta and Delhi.  Aeronautical messages and data needed for aircraft operations flow on this closed loop to make them available to all mateorological offices.  T/P Circuits and telex connections are used for exchange of aeronautical meteorological data with other meteorological offices.

(iv) Facsimile Broadcast

 For the benefit of meteorological offices, meteorological charts containing analysis and prognosis prpared by the Northern Hemisphere Analysis Centre, New Delhi (NHAC) are broadcast by means of radio facsimile equipment.  At present, 27 meteorological offices of the Department are equipped with facsimile reception facilities.  The facsimile broadcast covers a radial area of about 5000 kms. around Delhi and is received by many countries in Europe, Africa , Asia and Australia. Regional Area Forecast charts for the benefit of international aviation are also broadcast from new Delhi.

(v) Current weather display system

 Computer based display system have been provided at Calcutta, Delhi and Mumbai international airports for transmission of current weather information to various Air Traffic Control points. 

(vi) Other Telecommunication Facilites

The Department also avails of the micro-wave links of Railways, Wireless links of the Police and Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to communicate warnings to the user bodies on disastrous event of Cyclones, Floods, etc.

(vii) Dissemination of Warnings

 Apart from being the means for exchange of meteorological data, the telecommunication links also serve for dissemination of warnings.  Coastal Radio Stations maintained by DoT (Department of Telecommunication) disseminate warnings to ships on high seas while AIR (All India Radio) disseminate warnings for general public, fishermen and other users.

(viii) Telefax facilities

Telefax facilities have been provided at important meteorological offices for transmission/reception of Weather information.  This facility has been extended to Cyclone Detection Radar stations, Cyclone Warning Centres and Meteorological Centres.

(ix) VHF/Walkie - Talkie facilities

Walkie-Talkie sets have been provided at 27 National/International Airports and other stations for real time exchange of Runway Visual Range (RVR) and meteorological information for safe aircraft flights.  VHF facilities have been provided to 20 additional stations for exchange of meteorological information.

(x) VSAT facilities

VSAT network facilities are available at 26 stations. These are some of the Seismological Observatories, Cyclone Detection Radar Stations, Cyclone Warning Centres, Meteorological Centres and at some other important observatories where no reliable communications system exist.  This network operates utilizing communication transponders of INSAT.