The UK Government has warned that climate change could affect Wi-Fi.
Defra has released a report examining the possible effects of climate change on transport, energy and other key infrastructure - including telecommunications.
The report suggested it was "possible" that climate change could hurt the quality of wireless services.
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said that higher temperatures and heavy rainstorms could cut the range of wireless signal, while climate change could destablise masts or other infrastructure.
"If climate change threatens the quality of your signal, or you can't get it because of extreme fluctuations in temperature, then you will be disadvantaged, which is why we must address the question," said Spelman, according to a report in the Guardian. "And just imagine in the height of an emergency if the communications system is down or adversely affected."
The Government's report listed potential risks and considered how to build resilient infrastructure, in the hope of avoiding such problems.
“Our economy is built on effective transport and communications networks and reliable energy and water supplies," Spelman added. "But the economy cannot grow if there are repeated power failures, or goods cannot be transported because roads are flooded and railways have buckled, or if intense rainfall or high temperatures disrupt Wi-Fi signals."
This article originally appeared at pcpro.co.uk
