Recent disasters have revealed the extreme vulnerability of fixed landlines and cellular phone networks. This leaves first responders in affected areas unable to communicate with each other or with the outside world, says Satellite Communications, Iridium service provider and distributor of Inmarsat products in SA.
According to the company, Magen David Adom in Israel and The New Zealand Red Cross, both members of the International Red Cross, have purchased Iridium satellite communications equipment for use in disaster relief efforts.
"In the event of a disaster, Red Cross aid workers of Pacific Red Cross National Societies will be able to use the phones to communicate with each other, anywhere in the world," says Andrew McKie, operations manager of New Zealand Red Cross.
He says the New Zealand Red Cross has purchased Iridium 9505A handsets and is distributing the majority of them to various Red Cross National Societies in the Pacific, including Fiji, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga.
"Instant communications play a vital role in our disaster relief efforts," says Dr Noam Yifrah, chairman of Magen David Adom. "Having reliable backup communications that will work when we need it both at home and in remote locations is critical to our success."
Local Iridium service provider Satcomms spokesman Anthony Glass said satellite phones are a must for emergency and relief agencies.
"Iridium is suited to backing up land-based, cellular and radio telecom services when they are down in crisis situations. In addition, unlike many other systems, Iridium is interoperable with all other emergency communications systems, including UHF and VHF radios," he adds.
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