Emergency Telecoms

Through its work on standardization, ITU develops technical standards (known as Recommendations) that facilitate the use of public telecommunication services and systems for communications during emergency, disaster relief and mitigation operations. In such circumstances, technical features need to be in place to ensure that users who must communicate at a time of disaster have the communication channels they need, with appropriate security and with the best possible quality of service.

In Case of emergency

In case of emergency
A standardized language-independent way to identify a next-of-kin (or other emergency contact) in a mobile handset's directory, in case of an emergency, has been adopted as a new clause in ITU-T Recommendation E.123. Emergency rescue workers searching for contact information for the next-of-kin to an injured person now have a way of identifying that person's details.

ITU-T SG2 work on TDR

ITU-T SG 2 work on Telecommunication for Disaster Relief (TDR)
ITU-T SG 2 is the "Lead Study Group for Telecommunication for Disaster Relief/Early Warning"

PCP-TDR

Telecommunications for Disaster Relief and Mitigation - Partnership Co-ordination Panel (PCP-TDR)
The PCP-TDR was created in 2003 as a forum where “standardizers” and “users” of TDR facilities get together to ensure that emergency and disaster relief telecommunications standards meet users’ needs. Participation is open to international telecommunication service providers, related government departments, standards development organizations, intergovernmental organizations, disaster relief organizations, and other entities working in the field.

ITU-T Action Plan TDR/REW

ITU-T Action Plan – Telecommunications for Disaster Relief and Early Warning
In March 2005, TSAG established an ITU-T Action Plan for Standardization on Telecommunications for Disaster Relief and Early Warning (TDR/EW), which has been updated based on feedback provided by the ITU-T Study Groups. The creation of the plan was motivated by the identification of the need for new telecommunication standards following the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, and proposals made to the TSAG meeting.