ITU deploys satellite communication equipment in Zimbabwe
ITU has deployed satellite telephones and terminals to be used for disaster preparedness and mitigation fot the rainy season that can severe affect the rural areas os Zimbabwe.
ITU deploys satellite communication equipment in Malawi
ITU deployed satellite mobile telecommunications equipment to be used for relief activities in Malawi’s flood prone districts. This is due to the anticipated rainy season that can cause severe flooding especially in the southern part of Malawi.
ITU deploys satellite communication equipment in Uganda
ITU deployed satellite mobile telecommunications equipment for mitigation and preparedness to the actual rainy season, which is causing severe floods and mudslides that can result in loss of life and destruction in the Republic of Uganda.
ITU deploys satellite communication equipment in Cape Verde
ITU deployed emergency telecommunications equipment for mitigation and preparedness to the volcano on Fogo Island that is threatening the local population, there is a possible volcanic eruption that can cause massive disaster especially for the people of the Fogo Island.
ITU deploys satellite communication equipment to earthquake
and tsunami hit Japan
ITU has dispatched emergency telecommunications equipment to areas
severely affected by the tsunami that struck the coastal areas of
Japan following Friday’s devastating earthquake measuring 9.0 on the
Richter scale.
ITU has deployed 78 Thuraya satellite phones equipped with GPS to
facilitate search and rescue efforts along with 13 Iridium satellite
phones as well as 37 Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network
terminals. An additional 30 Inmarsat terminals are also ready for
dispatch. The equipment can be charged by car batteries and are also
supplied with solar panels to enable operations during power
outages. (more...)
ITU restores communication links in Indonesia disaster zones
ITU has deployed a hybrid of 40 broadband satellite terminals in an
effort to restore vital communication links in the aftermath of a tsunami triggered by a 7.7-magnitude
earthquake and a volcanic eruption that hit the Indonesian archipelago
in two separate incidents.
As aid and rescue workers battle rough weather and difficult terrain to
reach tsunami victims in the remote Mentawi islands off Sumatra, Mount
Merapi continues to spew super-heated gas and debris on villages in
Central Java. The natural disasters have wreaked havoc, causing untold
death and destruction in their wake.
ITU deploys broadband satellite telecommunications equipment
to flood ravaged Pakistan
The International Telecommunication Union has deployed satellite
communications equipment following
the severe floods that are continuing to affect the country.
Hundreds of people have lost
their lives, and infrastructure has been destroyed. Over 15 million
people have been displaced and vast tracts of fertile agricultural
land have been inundated, with many facing the prospect of a
continuing battle with water-borne diseases and malnutrition. The
livelihoods of several millions have been affected with severe
long-term repercussions on the economic and social life of the
country.
ITU deploys satellite communication equipment to earthquake
hit Chile
The International Telecommunication Union has deployed satellite
communications equipment in
the immediate aftermath of the earthquake that struck Chile on 27th
February, 2010. The equipment will be used to coordinate search and
rescue operations, and the delivery of basic logistics and
services by humanitarian workers.
The magnitude of the earthquake (8.8 on the Richter scale) is one
of the most powerful in recorded history. The epicentre of the
quake was 115km (70 miles) north-east of Concepcion and 325km
south-west of Santiago. It claimed over 700 lives, affected
thousands of people, and destroyed basic infrastructure that
includes telecommunications, power, roads, and houses. ITU is in the
process of identifying additional resources to augment the equipment
deployed this far.
ITU joins international effort to assist Haiti : Satellite links to re-establish communications in earthquake-hit country
Forty satellite terminals are being deployed immediately to
re-establish basic communication links and a further 60 units with
broadband facility are being dispatched along with experts to operate
them. ITU will also set up a Qualcomm Deployable Base Station (QDBS), a
reliable, responsive and complete cellular system designed to enable
vital wireless communications aimed at strengthening response and
recovery mechanisms in a disaster zone. ITU has allocated a budget of
over USD 1 million to strengthen the disaster response effort in Haiti. (more...)
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
has deployed 15 satellite
telephones to the island nation of Samoa, following the 8.3-magnitude
quake that struck at 1748 GMT on Tuesday 29 September 2009 and the
subsequent tsunami.
ITU deploys satellite terminals in Indonesia after earthquake
in Sumatra province
Following two powerful earthquakes that stuck near the city of Padang
in the west Sumatra province, the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) has deployed 80 satellite terminals to aid in relief and rescue
efforts.
The main earthquake struck at 1716 local time on 30 September 2009
with a magnitude of 7.6 some 85km (55 miles) under the sea,
north-west of Padang whilst the second quake of 6.8 struck close to
Padang at 0852 local time on Thursday 01 October 2009.
More than 1,000 people are known to have died and many more trapped
after scores of buildings were sent crashing to the ground.
The equipment is key to coordinate relief and rescue efforts by the
government authorities and other humanitarian aid agencies.
ITU deploys satellite terminals to Tonga
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has deployed 10
satellite telephones to the Kingdom of Tonga following an earthquake and devastating tsunami that hit Samoa on
the 29th September 2009 resulting in the loss of many lives
and infrastructure damage;
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has deployed 10
Iridium satellite phones with solar panels to provide assistance for
rescue operations after the sinking of the Princess Ashika, on the night
of Wednesday 5th of August 2009. This disaster is the biggest that the
Kingdom of Tonga has faced in history.
The satellite equipment deployed by ITU was used by the emergency
services, the police and the line ministries involved in search and
rescue operations that were carried out 85 kilometers North East of the
main island Tongatapu. The equipment was also used by the forensics to
give real- time information to the operation base used for the
identification of victims.
TheInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU) has deployed
satellite telephones to help restore vital communication links in
the region. The 6.6-magnitude quake that killed and injured many
residents especially in the high-altitude village of Nura, also
destroyed buildings and infrastructure
The ITU emergency satellite equipment is
especially well-suited to the task of coordinating disaster relief
operations and is compatible with existing government systems in the
country. The Iridium equipment uses solar panels to provide alternative
power in the absence of power infrastructure in the immediate aftermath
of a disaster.
In response to the severe earthquake that struck central China on 12
May 2008, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) deployed
100 satellite terminals to help restore vital communication links in the
region. The 8.0-magnitude quake in Sichuan province of China killed more
than 40 000 people and injured 250 000, with at least 32 000 still
missing ten days after the tragedy. The quake which destroyed
infrastructure and telecommunications lines, disrupted electricity and
transport, brought down buildings and rendered nearly 5 million people
homeless, is the country’s worst natural disaster in three decades.
Roughly 5 million people have been left homeless.
The ITU emergency satellite equipment is especially well-suited
to the task of coordinating disaster relief operations and is compatible
with existing government systems in the Sichuan Province. The equipment
uses both satellite and GSM networks and also provide accurate GPS
coordinates to aid relief and rescue operations.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
deployed 100 satellite terminals to help restore vital communication
links in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis which hit Myanmar on May 2.
Cyclone Nargis tore off roofs, uprooted trees and downed power lines
resulting in many parts of Yangon being left without electricity and
telecommunications.
Based on a satellite map made available by the U.N., the storm's damage
was concentrated over about a 30,000-square-kilometer area along the
Andaman Sea and Gulf of Martaban coastlines, home to nearly a quarter of
Myanmar's 57 million people.
ITU was one of the first agencies to arrive and deploy
telecommunications resources in Myanmar and this rapid response was made
possible thanks to the on-going implementation of the ITU Framework for
Cooperation in Emergencies.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
provided both Thuraya
hand-held satellite phones and Inmarsat Global
Area Network (GAN) satellite terminals to Zambia to assist officials in
their relief efforts after severe floods inundated low-lying districts
across Zambia. Nearly 400 000 people in 19 districts across the country
were affected, with as many as 36 000 inhabitants displaced. The
majority of the victims were in Monze (Western Province), Mumbwa
(Central Province), Mkushi (Central Province), Mazabuka (Southern
Province) and Kafue (Lusaka Province). A total of 3418 homes and 44
schools collapsed as a result of heavy rainfall, and ensuing floods have
destroyed roads and communication links, hampering the coordination and
delivery of assistance.
This deployment of emergency telecommunications
proved critical for the government and humanitarian aid agencies were
involved in rescue operations, medical assistance and recovery. The
mobile terminals deployed by ITU are easily transportable by road and
air to the affected regions and facilitate the coordination of relief
operations by both government and humanitarian agencies to aid the
victims of such disasters.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
deployed 25 satellite terminals to help restore vital communication
links in the aftermath of severe floods that affected the eastern and
northern regions of Uganda. Several districts were ravaged by torrential
rains and flash floods that swept through the country, taking lives,
marooning over 140,000 people and destroying road and communication
links.
The terminals were allocated to the Ministry of
Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Refugees and Coordination Officers in
the affected regions to assist in the response and relief efforts.
The offer from ITU followed a request by the Uganda Communications
Commission. Whenever a country is affected by a disaster and requests
assistance from the ITU, transportable telecommunications resources are
quickly mobilized and dispatched. ITU bears the costs of transport and
usage of the equipment.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deployed satellite
terminals in Bangladesh to assist in relief efforts in the aftermath of
terrible monsoon flooding. According to government figures, 5 million
people were displaced or marooned by the floods. Many homes were left
damaged or completely uninhabitable.
The satellite terminals were used to coordinate relief and rescue
activities in the worst hit areas.
ITU provided training to 30 telecoms engineers from Bangladesh who were
designated to deploy and use the equipment. They were trained by ITU in
basic operations, as well as in technical aspects of the satellite
terminals.
Following
the devastating earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale that
struck Southern Peru on 15 August 2007, killing more than 500 people and
injuring as well as displacing thousands more, ITU deployed 50 satellite
terminals to help restore vital communication links in remote and
underserved areas. These links are critical in coordinating rescue and
relief operations.
The equipment is being deployed in areas where telecommunications are
not available. But these are most needed to facilitate emergency teams
as well as government organizations in establishing communications to
coordinate their work.
Emergency telecommunication is the key for government and humanitarian
aid agencies involved in rescue operations, medical assistance and
rehabilitation. Mountainous terrain in Peru has severely hampered access
and the coordination of rescue operations. The restoration of
telecommunication resources have helped bridge these gaps and provided
the much needed link for the transmission and reception of high speed
data for e-applications and for voice communications. This has provided
succour to both government authorities and relief agencies as well as to
the affected population.
Following
the powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake of Saturday 27 May 2006 that
struck Java Island, Indonesia, ITU, in partnership with the United
Nations Satellite Agency (UNOSAT), is assisting the government of
Indonesia with the provision of satellite imagery, mapping services and
training in Yogjakarta for post-disaster telecommunication network
planning, rehabilitation and vulnerability reduction.
The objectives of this post-disaster assistance are:
■ Provide very high resolution
pre-disaster geographical mapping,
■ Provide very high resolution post-disaster mapping to be used in
rehabilitation operations and planning of telecom networks,
■ Provide geographical mapping
information for reducing vulnerability of critical infrastructure, e.g.,
telecommunications network when future disasters strike,
■ Provide assistance in interpreting
data and information from the geographical maps,
■ Conduct related training of staff
as required,
■ Provide GIS Software.
The International Telecommunication Union has deployed satellite
terminals to Suriname in response to a request for assistance by the
government following an ongoing disaster. The equipment will facilitate
timely flow of information among humanitarian workers in the field. The
satellite terminals that are charged by solar panels support voice, high
speed data and video applications.
So far, response efforts have been hampered by damage to roads,
airstrips and other parts of the South American nation's infrastructure
including telecommunications. As the country gets more and more into the
rainy season, authorities expect the flooding to worsen and heavy rains
were forecast for the next few days.
Immediately
following the massive earthquake that struck the Pakistan-India border
area in October 2005, ITU sent 55 satellite terminals to help restore
vital communication links.
The terminals would be used to coordinate relief and rescue
operations, and help establish public call centres to provide essential
information to families and friends searching for their loved ones.
To facilitate the deployment of the telecommunication equipment,
Pakistan quickly designated 40 officials to be responsible for
communications. These were trained by ITU in basic operations, as well
as in technical aspects of the satellite terminals. Training was also
provided to 22 physicians involved in a telemedicine initiative at the
Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi. This training was primarily on how
to use the 40 RBGAN terminals that were to be deployed by medical teams
helping injured people in remote areas. Diagnostic information on
patients is being transmitted via satellite to hospitals, for expert
analysis and advice.
Following
the South East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami of Sunday 26 December 2004,
ITU sent 14 satellite terminals (GANS) to Sri Lanka under the ITU-Inmarsat Partnership. ITU has also sent an expert to Thailand to
train government designated technicians in the use of these terminals.
Over and above the deployment of satellite terminals, ITU has already
allocated 250 000 (USD) seed money
to assess the damage to the telecommunication infrastructure in
Indonesia, Maldives and Sri Lanka, prepare a telecommunication
infrastructure rehabilitation plan, and help develop a national plan for
emergency communications as part of the Tsunami Early Warning System for
the Indian Ocean. As well, in the event of other natural disasters or
major telecommunication network failures, ITU will assist governments in
preparing technical specifications and investment projects needed for
infrastructure procurement while helping to prepare the documentation
required to source funding for the investment projects.
rescue
efforts.
Following
the devastating earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale that
struck Southern Peru on 15 August 2007, killing more than 500 people and
injuring as well as displacing thousands more, ITU deployed 50 satellite
terminals to help restore vital communication links in remote and
underserved areas. These links are critical in coordinating rescue and
relief operations. 
Following
the powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake of Saturday 27 May 2006 that
struck Java Island, Indonesia, ITU, in partnership with the United
Nations Satellite Agency (UNOSAT), is assisting the government of
Indonesia with the provision of satellite imagery, mapping services and
training in Yogjakarta for post-disaster telecommunication network
planning, rehabilitation and vulnerability reduction.
Immediately
following the massive earthquake that struck the Pakistan-India border
area in October 2005, ITU sent 55 satellite terminals to help restore
vital communication links. 
Following
the South East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami of Sunday 26 December 2004,
ITU sent 14 satellite terminals (GANS) to Sri Lanka under the