Just when you think you have developed a fool-proof system along will come a better fool.
When MUAC was opened we had duplicated, even triplicated phone lines. Unfortunately all came together just outside the building and as there was a bit too much cable a couple of Esses were laid. Unfortunately not copied onto the drawings and forgotten about until some ground works had to be done. It went very quiet in the Ops. Room.
Interesting that the Beeb decided to talk to a representative of Ryanair in the light of some of MOL's previous diatribes against the system. Anything can be fixed if you throw enough money at it, but would Ryanair be prepared to pay the price.
NAROBS, as has been explained the problem lay in the VCCS, If you don't have the backup in the Ops. Room what do you expect staff to do; run down the road to the nearest phone box?
Swanwick has a major training facility, virtually next door to the main site that can be switched to take control of the live environment
Although I haven't been to Swanwick since it opened I doubt if this is the case. This would leave the whole system open to abuse, In any case the VCCS would be the same.