Intelsat Contributes Communications Infrastructure for Relief Efforts
Intelsat S.A., a provider of satellite services, has provided an update on its satellite capacity and other critical connectivities being used in a number of restoration initiatives in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan.
Immediately after the disaster occurred, Intelsat began working with customers and partners to ensure that the necessary infrastructure and satellite capacity were in place to accelerate the restoration of vital communications for relief workers and businesses in the Philippines.
Leveraging its flexible satellite infrastructure, Intelsat repointed a Ku-band beam on the Intelsat 8 satellite to bring urgently needed capacity to the Philippines, in addition to providing capacity on other satellites already serving the region. Intelsat is also providing an uplink via the IntelsatOneSM terrestrial network from the Kumsan, South Korea Teleport and a downlink in the Philippines. In total, three satellites are restoring connectivity and services to relief workers on the ground.
"With devastation of this magnitude, it is critical that humanitarian workers have the connectivity necessary to support their relief efforts," said Stephen Spengler, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Intelsat. "Given the breadth and size of our satellite fleet, we were able to quickly mobilize and redirect capacity, demonstrating the ability of satellite-based solutions to provide rapid response communications. We are working hard to help our customers provide much needed aid and services to those communities deeply impacted by Typhoon Haiyan."
Leveraging the depth and resources of Intelsat's satellite infrastructure in the Asia Pacific region, the company:
- Delivered bandwidth support to the American Red Cross International Emergency Response unit's operations in the Philippines. Intelsat provided Ku-band capacity via its Intelsat 8 satellite and partnered with KTSAT Co. Ltd., the KT affiliate specializing in satellite solutions, which donated its teleport services and IP bandwidth to support the IntelsatOnenetwork broadband solution.
- Donated C-band capacity on Intelsat 902 to provide Astrium, the world's second largest space company, satellite connectivity for major global humanitarian agencies to conduct emergency rescue missions in the region affected by the typhoon.
- Worked closely with GATR Technologies to support telecommunications teams dispatched by Cisco Systems and the non-profit Global Disaster Immediate Response Team (Global DIRT) in some of the hardest hit regions. GATR provided inflatable satellite terminals and support personnel while Intelsat donated bandwidth on the Intelsat 19 satellite, connecting back to the public network via the Intelsat Napa teleport.
Intelsat has a long history of contributing ongoing satellite connectivity to social and humanitarian causes around the world, including the Mindset Network in South Africa, the Children's National Medical Center Telehealth Program in Morocco and Medical Missions for Children in Latin America and the Caribbean. Responding to natural disasters, Intelsat provided satellite connectivity for relief and rebuilding efforts in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.