Understanding Satellite Communications for Disaster Recovery

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Understanding Satellite Communications for
Disaster Recovery
Near Term Satellite Communications for Disaster
Recovery
John R. Ted OBrien VP, Market Development tel
no 1 [phone] ted.obrien_at_iridium.com
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Iridium Voice Traffic in the Gulf Region August
19, 2005
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Iridium Voice Traffic in the Gulf Region
September 2, 2005
Estimated 8-10,000 Iridium users in the field
within 1st two weeks after Katrina hit
3,000 increase in traffic in the region
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Iridium Network Capabilities

• Requires only one gateway for full global
  operation
• No reliance on regional infrastructure or ground
  routing
• Voice and data service

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True Global Service
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Iridium Call Routing for Disaster Recovery
Iridiums call path is highly secure and disaster
proof. Calls seamlessly transit inter-satellite
links, never relying on ground transport.
Iridium to Iridium calls go directly from
satellite phone to satellite to phone.
Tamil Nadu, India Post Tsunami
Iridium Gateway Tempe, Arizona
Iridium 9505 Handset
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Push To Talk Phase 1
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Push To Talk Phase 2
Talk Group A. Members on Satellites 1 and 2 and
others
Talk Group B. Members on Satellites 1 and 2 and
others
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Equipment Configurations
Multi-Channel Fixed Service
Vehicular Mount
Handheld
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Iridium Used for Disaster Recovery

• Iridium was used extensively during Taiwan
  Earthquake in 1999 South Pole rescue (May 2001)
  aftermath of September 11, 2001 Arizona
  Wildfires (July, 2002) New York Blackout (Power
  Outage in New York in August, 2003) 2004 Florida
  hurricanes Disaster Relief following the Asian
  Tsunami in December, 2004 and the Indonesian
  Earthquake in January, 2005
• Iridium's Service Partners activated nearly 800
  phones in the 1st two days of September, 2004 in
  preparation for hurricane Frances
• Iridium users and traffic in the tsunami-affected
  area doubled in early January
• On December 29 Iridium temporarily
• reopened Northern Sri Lanka
• communications to assist relief efforts.

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Iridium Used for Disaster Recovery

• In aftermath of Hurricanes Charley, Frances,
  Ivan and Jeanne that devastated parts of Florida
  and the Caribbean, Iridium handsets were used by
  Hillsborough Countys Emergency Support Function
  Group before landline and cell phone capabilities
  were restored.

Photo Near Tampa, FL August 2004 by Hillsborough
County Extension Relief Team
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Iridium Used for Disaster Recovery
In response to Hurricane Frances, GMPCS provided
more than 400 phones to emergency response teams,
local businesses and essential public services,
including Florida Power and Light (FPL).
Photos near Jensen Beach, Florida following
Hurricane Frances Sept. 04
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September 11, 2001 Testimonial

• Shortly after the World Trade Towers were
  struck, Verizon lost all service from their West
  Street Central switching office. My cell phone
  was essentially useless, as was our landline home
  line. I walked out to a clear area on our street
  and turned on my Iridium handset.
• It quickly responded with "Registered" and
  the signal came up. It meant more than I can say
  to have that call go through at that moment. I
  carry my Iridium handset regardless of how short
  a trip may be. Your service is an indispensable
  communications tool.

Gerald AnzanoING Asset Management
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September 11, 2001 - Pentagon Region

• Provided 450 handsets to greater DC military, law
  enforcement, rescue, and humanitarian forces

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Needed Improvements

• User education solution choices
• Multiple systems available
• Specific capabilities
• Varied requirements (over time, between tasks)
• Equipment pre-positioning
• Network operators, service providers, users
• User training
• E.g. dialing, line-of-sight
• Application adoption
• E.g. tracking, monitoring
• Interoperability
• Wide variety of systems employed