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Satellite communications to bolster emergency response
ITU, Intelsat and ITSO agree to collaborate
Geneva,
29 March 2011—
ITU reached agreement with Intelsat S.A. and the
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) to strengthen
emergency telecommunication resources. The collaboration aims to quicken the
response to restore vital communications infrastructure in the aftermath of
natural disasters.
“Recent catastrophes that have wrought havoc around the world demonstrate
eloquently that there is an increasing need for effective and timely deployment
of telecommunication resources to help countries in emergency and disaster
relief,” said
ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré. “This agreement between ITU, Intelsat and
ITSO will go a long way in increasing our early response capabilities and in
re-establishing the communication links that are so vital in rescue and relief
operations.”
Recognizing that satellite technology, with its ubiquitous coverage and rapid
deployment, is ideally suited for response to communications needs in emergency
situations, the agreement between ITU, Intelsat and ITSO brings together key
players in the satellite industry to address the emergency communications needs
of countries worldwide. Following the request from a Member State
for assistance in the aftermath of a natural disaster, ITU will inform Intelsat
of the request for satellite capacity and other related needs. Intelsat will
then consult with ITSO and consider donating satellite capacity.
Intelsat is one of the world’s leading providers of satellite telecommunications
services, with a footprint covering over 200 countries. ITSO is an
intergovernmental organization with a mission to ensure that Intelsat complies
with its contractual obligations following its privatization in 2001 to provide
international public telecommunications services, including voice, data and
video, on a global and non-discriminatory basis.
ITSO Director General José Toscano said, “When emergencies occur in remote or
geographically isolated places, satellite providers like Intelsat are often the
ideal solution for solving the communications needs.”
“Intelsat, with over 50 satellites in orbit around the world, is often
the enabler of the first communications links re-established following a natural
disaster. We will collaborate with ITU and ITSO to streamline the provisioning
of connectivity and communications infrastructure that support critical
humanitarian services during emergencies,” said Intelsat CEO Dave McGlade.
The agreement between ITU, Intelsat and ITSO is an outcome of the Hyderabad Plan
of Action adopted by the World Telecommunication Development Conference in 2010
that called for private sector participation to help close the gap in universal
access to information and communication technologies (ICT) and to support
emergency communications in particular.
For more information, please contact:
Sanjay Acharya, Chief, Media Relations and Public Information
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Cosmas Zavazava
Chief, Projects and Initiatives Department,
ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
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