Satellite
Communications Deployed For Improved Global Response to
Disasters
(20 June 2007) ITU reached agreement
today with ICO Global Communications and the Commonwealth Business Council to
utilise satellite communications for improved global response in the face of
natural disasters.
Natural calamities have spread mayhem around
the world, severely impacting the lives of people and the environment. The
recent spate of tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, floods,
landslides and forest fires have left behind a legacy of lost and broken lives,
economic upheaval and sheer devastation, imposing long-lasting impediments to
sustainable development and global efforts for poverty reduction. The poor,
especially those living in remote and isolated areas, are the most vulnerable
and disaster-prone.
In 2006 alone, 21,800 people succumbed to natural
disasters, with 95 per cent of those killed residing in least developed
countries. US$ 65 billion of economic loss was recorded
world-wide.
Satellite airtime for emergencies
ICO Global
Communications will provide airtime on their F2 satellite for disaster
prevention and effective response in the aftermath of natural disasters through
both voice communications and other telecommunication applications, including
telemedicine. An hour's airtime will be provided every day for use through ITU
to help countries maintain preparedness, provide early-warning information and
elicit quick response. In the event of a disaster, this time will be adjusted
according to demand to facilitate rescue and rehabilitation
efforts.
"The partnership that we have established with ICO Global
Communications and the Commonwealth Business Council is an important milestone
towards ITU's effort to save human life," said Dr Hamadoun Touré,
Secretary-general of ITU. "Satellite communication provides a platform to
deliver a wide range of services and applications even to remote areas. In the
digital age, we are able to provide an ICT lifeline to disaster victims and
humanitarian personnel entrusted with co-ordinating rescue and relief
operations, especially when terrestrial communications infrastructure is
disrupted, overloaded or destroyed."
While ITU will manage and
co-ordinate emergency telecommunications, the Commonwealth Business Council
(CBC) will provide content and manage the entrepreneurial skill development
programme.
"ICO strongly supports the goals of ITU and CBC, and we are
pleased to be able to contribute ICO's satellite services to these efforts,"
added J. Timothy Bryan, CEO of ICO, a next-generation satellite operator.
"ICO's development and global implementation of S-band technology will serve
our interests well as we continue to work with key suppliers to create advanced
user terminals to access F2 for humanitarian and emergency uses."
Dr
Mohan Kaul, Director General of the Commonwealth Business Council, said, "CBC
is pleased to work with ITU and ICO to contribute towards development and
disaster preparedness. What is required for the future is increased economic
empowerment of wider segments of society, to lift people out of poverty and
give them new opportunity. This can be achieved by bringing technology and
innovation to the service of many." Dr Kaul added, "We need to pursue the
'democratisation of knowledge' by making technology more widely and freely
accessible. By means of tele-education and entrepreneurial development
programmes, CBC will equip and prepare global citizens for economic empowerment
and disaster management."
(source: ITU)