WHY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS ARE AN

ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

AND DISASTER RECOVERY This White Paper has been developed by Futron Corporation and GVF, the non-profit association of the

global satellite communications sector. It is intended to provide an introduction for public and private

sector organizations by setting forth the basic facts about satellite communications that are available to

support any emergency requirement. Further, the White Paper aims to facilitate those organizations’

efforts to effectively procure, contract for, and deploy satellite-based emergency management and

disaster recovery solutions.

D ISASTER AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS – SATELLITES ARE KEY

Communications provide the critical path for relief in emergency and disaster situations. Communications connect and help move logistical, rescue and first responder resources in any region of the world facing or recovering from natural or man-made disasters. Deploying wireless communications is typically among the first priorities in any emergency response, rescue, or relief situation. However, terrestrial wireless equipment (cellular phones or land mobile radios) is only useful when communications towers and other fixed equipment are in place to connect wireless equipment to the local and global communications backbone. In the majority of emergency situations, this infrastructure has either been destroyed by the disaster (e.g. New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina) or was not available before the disaster (e.g. the earthquake in Pakistan). This reality makes it critical for local government and emergency workers to have access to a wireless communications network that is not dependant on terrestrial infrastructure. Satellite communications provide such a solution. Satellites are the only wireless communications infrastructure that is not susceptible to damage from disasters, because the main repeaters sending and receiving signals (the satellite spacecraft) are located outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Users today have two kinds of satellite communications networks available to support emergency response activities: geostationary satellite systems (GEO) and low Earth orbit satellites (LEO). Geostationary (GEO) satellites are located 36,000 km above the Earth in a fixed position and provide service to a country or a region covering up to one third of the globe. They are capable of providing a full range of communications services, including voice, video and broadband data. These satellites operate with ground equipment ranging from very large fixed gateway antennas down to mobile terminals the size of a cellular phone. There are currently almost 300 commercial GEO satellites in orbit operated by global, regional and national satellite carriers. Even before disasters strike, these networks are used in many countries to provide seismic and flood-sensing data to government agencies to enable early warning of an impending situation. Also, they

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broadcast disaster-warning notices and facilitate general communication and information flow between government agencies, relief organizations and the public. LEO satellites operate in orbits between 780 km and 1,500 km (depending on the system) and provide voice and low speed data communications. These satellites can operate with handheld units about the size of a large cellular phone. As with handheld terminals that rely upon GEO satellites, the highly portable nature of LEO-based units makes them another valuable satellite solution for first responders in the field. In order to most effectively utilize the capabilities of these systems, government agencies, relief organizations and other first responders must define as far in advance as possible what kind of terminals they will need to have in the field before and after an emergency. This planning requires an understanding of the different capabilities of the various system types outlined below.

GETTING EQUIPPED

Satellite technology can provide narrowband and broadband IP communications (Internet, data, video, or voice over IP) with speeds starting at 64 Kbps from handheld terminals up to 4 Mbps bi-directional from portable VSAT antennas. Fixed installation can bring the bandwidth up to 40 Mbps. The operation of these satellite systems and services follows the general topology depicted below:

Solutions using this topology can be used for both advance disaster mitigation services and to support relief and recovery efforts under three general categories:

1 . HANDHELD MOBILE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

Once a disaster has occurred, local infrastructure – including microwave, cellular and other communications facilities – are often knocked out, either because towers are destroyed, or because of electrical failures. In the immediate aftermath of such a disaster, there is one reliable form of

LAN Switch

Gateway or Hub Antenna

Portable VSAT Terminal

Transportable VSAT Terminal

Mobile VSAT

Terminal

Fixed Terminal

Handheld Terminal

Satellite

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communications, which is the use of handheld satellite telephone systems provided by mobile satellite service providers. These systems provide access through very small, cell-phone-sized devices, as well as pagers and in-vehicle units, similar to those shown below:

Prices for satellite phones can be as low as $40 a week for rental, with purchase prices ranging from under $400 up to about $2,000. Services are provided on a per-minute basis, as with any mobile telephone system, and start under a dollar a minute.

2 . PORTABLE AND TRANSPORTABLE MOBILE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

Mobile satellite systems, or terminals used for “communications on the move” include equipment that can be transported and operated from inside a car, truck or maritime vessel, as well as in helicopters and other aircraft, including commercial airplanes. This kind of terminal is useful where data-intensive, high-speed connections are needed on an expedited basis for damage assessment, medical evaluation or other applications for voice, video and data. Depending on the satellite system and type of equipment, they can be operational in anywhere from 5-30 minutes usually without expert technical staff, and can be deployed anywhere. As with communications systems in general, higher satellite terminal prices – whether they are portable, mobile or fixed – equate to more robust services, higher reliability, faster delivery and a wide range of other features and options.

3 . F IXED SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

Fixed satellite communications terminals would typically be installed in cases where the equipment is required for longer than one week, including pre-disaster applications – e.g. environmental monitoring, communications redundancy, etc. – as well as post-disaster recovery operations. Such systems can be configured to provide everything from low-speed data transmissions up to very broad bandwidth data and full broadcast-quality video to replace local and national telecommunications infrastructure. Such systems must be installed by a qualified technical team. To support the installation and deployment of such systems, satellite companies have developed an industry-standard VSAT Installation & Maintenance Training Certification Program. For more information, go to www.gvf.org and click on “Training”.

PROCURING BANDWIDTH, INTEGRATION & OTHER SERVICES

There are a number of global satellite carriers operating fleets of geostationary satellites providing mostly fixed or portable communications, although some are also used for mobile services, including services on ships and aircraft. There are also a large number of regional and national satellite carriers providing fixed

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and portable services in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania. In addition, there are several operators of systems providing service to handheld satellite phones and pagers. Users have a variety of choices for obtaining access to these satellite services. Handheld mobile satellites are the simplest, in keeping with the way the systems work. A user needs only to contact one of the many value added resellers to lease or buy the phone or other devices and sign a service contract. These companies are readily available through the Internet, and the units can be shipped on an expedited basis. For portable and fixed VSAT services it is possible to either contact the satellite companies themselves, or work through one of the wide range of network integrators providing end-to-end communications services, including VSAT terminals and satellite bandwidth access, on either a global, regional or local basis. These companies are often registered with local telecommunications regulatory agencies, and most are GVF members. To access an interactive industry directory, go to www.gvf.org and click on “Members”.

ADVANCE PLANNING IS KEY

As noted above, long-term advance planning for natural disaster mitigation can be supported by the use of satellite networks connecting seismic and other environmental sensors to local or national government agencies. Likewise, fully redundant communications networks supported by backup satellite solutions are one of the most effective means of assuring operational continuity throughout emergencies and disasters. Once a disaster is in view, or has struck, having communications equipment on-hand is critical. Planning to meet the recovery efforts needed for natural or other disasters thus must include advance purchases of equipment and service contracts for relief workers and others. Such planning includes having a supply of satellite telephones in stock, either at locations that are at-risk for major disasters or at distribution centers from which they can be readily dispatched once a hurricane is forecasted, or immediately after an earthquake strikes. As a complimentary service to the emergency management and disaster recovery communities, GVF facilitates contact with – and derivation of competitive quotations from – international satellite communications companies. This community service is provided by GVF in three ways:

� Interactive Online Directory: At www.gvf.org/members, a directory of nearly 200 leading satellite communications companies is publicly available. The resource includes the full range of system and service providers: Terminals and sub-systems, bandwidth, integration, legal services and more. A search function enables visitors to quickly identify the type of solution providers needed. Contact details are included as well as hyperlinks to each company’s website.

� Competitive Tendering: Parties interested in potentially procuring a satellite-based solution are

constantly sending inquiries to GVF, which, in turn, includes them in the GVF Executive Briefing, a monthly periodical sent out electronically to the global satellite communications industry. Inquiries range from simple requests for information to highly detailed tender notices. In either case, contact details are provided so that the industry can respond directly to the inquiring party. These responses by industry are made in full knowledge that their competitors are also making contact with the inquiring party, which ensures the provision of competitive pricing. (In cases where inquiring parties do not want their identity revealed, the GVF Secretariat can field industry responses and relay them to the inquiring party.) To take advantage of this resource, send your inquiry to Helen.Jameson@gvf.org

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� Emergency Notices: When disasters strike and advance planning was either inadequate or non-existent, rapid response is necessary. During and after disasters, GVF remains on alert to receive urgent requests for satellite systems and services and to post immediate notices to the international industry. A wide range of humanitarian and aid organizations regularly take advantage of this vital resource, including most recently NGOs and agencies involved in the North African famines, Asian tsunami, earthquake in Pakistan, and more. Send urgent notices to Helen.Jameson@gvf.org and David.Hartshorn@gvf.org.

Many members of the emergency response and disaster recovery community whose needs would best be addressed by satellite communications need further information on how to include these solutions in their operational plans. To optimize satellite-based solutions for your organization’s requirements, information may be needed on how to:

� Ascertain whether satellite does indeed fit your application(s)

� Design a satellite network optimized to your requirement(s)

� Develop a business plan to sustain the network

� Procure a competitively-priced satellite network

� Deploy, maintain, operate and – potentially – grow the network Futron is a GVF Member and provider of decision support consulting services to the government and businesses in the aerospace and telecommunications industries. Futron’s consulting services include market and industry analyses, safety and risk management, and communications and information management. Futron can assist organizations in the emergency management field to plan, evaluate, design and implement communications solutions. GVF is a non-profit industry association created to educate governments and enterprises about satellite communications worldwide. For more detailed information, or to discuss how to proceed to identify specific solutions, contact Futron or the GVF at the addresses below. Futron Corporation GVF info@futron.com david.hartshorn@gvf.org