INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
ITU and Kacific boost emergency telecoms in Vanuatu
Kacific Broadband Satellites Group and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have joined forces in support of Vanuatu to provide a reliable communications network when disasters strike. The collaboration aims to bring connectivity, in particular to remote and outer islands, including parts of Vanuatu where existing telecommunications networks were recently destroyed in the wake of the Category-Five Cyclone Harold, which cut a deadly path through the north of the country in early April. “This initiative will strengthen disaster resilience of Vanuatu,” said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau. “By building closer collaboration, partnerships and integrating innovative digital technologies in disaster risk reduction and management, we can go much further in terms of mitigating against disasters and saving lives.” After Cyclone Harold: making a difference in Vanuatu The collaboration is having a significant impact across the region, including in hard-hit Vanuatu where it has provided equipment, such as Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs), to deliver connectivity to help relief efforts after normal network coverage was wiped out.
On 7 April, the morning after Cyclone Harold passed through Vanuatu, one community chief expressed his amazement that people could still access the internet even after all the big networks went offline. This was due to the community WiFi service offered by the VSAT provided by ITU and Kacific. “Truly, this small network is amazing, and I can see how important it is for our communities in times like this,” he said. “Thank you so much to ITU and Kacific for making communication easy and still connected during such a difficult time.” Similar sentiments were expressed by Vanuatu’s government for the satellite bandwidth capacity provided to their Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in the affected northern central part of Vanuatu. The VSATs that were deployed assist assessment teams on the ground who have been helping with detailed sectoral assessments that will form the basis for the Post Disaster Needs Assessment for Vanuatu’s recovery effort. “Prior to Tropical Cyclone Harold, Kacific had been working closely with Vanuatu’s government to connect remote medical centres and schools,” said Lakshminarasimhan Sundarrajan, Kacific’s Vice President of Pre-Sales. “In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Harold, Kacific continues to partner with the government and international agencies, including ITU, to enable broadband connectivity in unserved areas. Kacific will continue to support Vanuatu with highspeed broadband connectivity to reach essential services in the country during these trying times.” Beyond equipment: sharing knowledge and expertise As part of the Development of Satellite Communications Capacity and Emergency Communications Solutions for the Pacific Islands, Kacific is in the process of donating some 40 1.2m Ka-band terminals, which provide high-speed satellite connectivity services that will address, among other things, the need for better communications in the aftermath of disasters. Kacific will also share its technical expertise by training local partners on using and maintaining the satellite ground equipment. Crucially, local partners will be trained to use this service for emergency telecommunications to aid recovery efforts following disasters. One major lesson to be learned from the disaster caused by Tropical Cyclone Harold is the importance of development
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