ITU
reached agreement today with ICO Global Communications and the Commonwealth
Business Council to utilize 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. USD 65 billion of
economic loss was recorded worldwide.
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 coordinating rescue and relief operations, especially when terrestrial
communications infrastructure is disrupted, overloaded or destroyed."
While ITU will manage and coordinate 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 ‘democratization
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."
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