Critical Communications: A review of approaches to managing connectivity during natural disasters: - Types of Disasters - Approaches - Real Life Case Study Examples - Products and Services in a Disaster? - Ways to Improve - More Real Life Case Study Examples

1. 1
Nick Miller, Head of Sales
SpeedCast Pacific
April 2016
Practical Comms
Applications for Disasters

2. 2
Agenda
 Definition
 Types of Disasters
 Approaches
 Real Life Case Study Examples
 Products and Services in a Disaster?
 Ways to Improve
 More Real Life Case Study Examples

3. Disaster - Definitions
 Wikipedia – “A disaster is a serious disruption of the
functioning of a community or a society involving
widespread human, material, economic or
environmental losses and impacts.
…disasters can be seen as the consequence of
inappropriately managed risk. ”
 Oxford Dictionary – A sudden accident or a natural
catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life

4. Disasters… Unpredictable & Uncontrolled
Fiji Cyclone
Christchurch Earthquake Japanese Tsunami

5. Disasters… Man-made
 Civil Unrest, Riots;
unfortunately still a possibility
 Fibre breaks
 Human Error
 Critical Infrastructure can be
effected significantly

6. Communications in a Disaster…
• Key approaches;
1. Immediate Response / Emergency Communications
2. Restoration and Recovery Efforts
• Voice & Data Communications is often only via satellites

7. Communications in a Disaster…
 Satellite is used in both cases to assist emergency & aid
workers, volunteers & network restorers as they slowly bring
terrestrial infrastructure back online; Weeks, Months until
suitable power.

8. Real Life Example – Christchurch Earthquake
 Location –
Christchurch, NZ
 Disaster – Earthquake
 Customer –
Urban Search &
Rescue (USAR)
 System –
AutoPoint 1m VSAT
 Service –
SpeedCast + Eutelsat

9. The Need - USAR: “Ring of Fire”

10. Solution - SpeedCast Combined Coverage
Powered by:
An example of how we provide Disaster Recovery Services

11. Urban Search & Rescue Squad – Ku 1m

12.  Can be Non-climatic
 PPC-1 was recently interrupted through a break.
 A large amount of PNG connectivity was offline.
Disaster Types… Unplanned

13. Case Study Example – PPC1 Fibre break
 Real Life “Disaster” effecting a whole country
 SpeedCast was able to assist one of PNG’s main ISPs to remain
online through a large ramp-up with our partner O3b; a fantastic
co-operation and flexibility.
 ANY communications is better than NONE, so a reduced
availability will often be accepted over nothing.
 Key Message = Effective backups are ALWAYS required.
Port Moresby

14. Products & Services in a Disaster
 Disaster Response Satellite is delivered in two
methods;
1.Usage based L-Band terminals or
2.Unlimited use Ku/Ka-Band/C-band VSAT
 Both deliver voice and data capability

15. L-BAND: Mobile Satellite Services (MSS)
 L-Band Handheld Satellite Phones & Data Devices deliver voice and in
some cases narrowband limited data (<80k) on phones
 Larger devices up to ~500 kbps
 All come with GPS, SOS Emergency & robust designs

16. Inmarsat – Voice
 Ruggedized Sat Phones:
 IsatPhone Pro & IsatPhone 2
 Secure Docking Stations
 Longest talk time & battery
life

17. Inmarsat Coverage – Global except poles
I4 Series GEO

18. Iridium – Voice & Narrowband Data
 Hardened Sat phones;
Iridium 9555 & 9575 Extreme
 Iridium GO – Use your
smartphone for VoIP calls
and texting through this 30m
Wi-Fi hotspot; global
connection for voice and
data communications on up
to five smartphones, laptops
or tablets; 22 kilobits/second
data

19. Iridium Coverage - global
66 satellite LEO fleet

20. Thuraya (not as effective in Pacific)
 Ruggedized Sat Phone - XT
 Secure Docking Stations
 “Satsleeve” for Androids and
iPhone; turn your smartphone
into a satphone
 XT Hotspot

21. Thuraya Coverage (Limited)
Thuraya (UAE) GEO Fleet

22. Latest Developments in MSS
 “Hotspot” setup to allow connection of multiple
smartphones via wireless, and utilise the satellite
transmission path to carry the voice/text/narrowband data
 Good for VoIP & Narrowband Data applications. Examples:
IRIDIUM GO
INMARSAT ISATHUB AND ISAVI
THURAYA SATSLEEVE + XT HOTSPOT

23. L-Band Data Terminals
 L-Band Data terminals such as INMARSAT BGAN and
THURAYA IP units are the most portable and effective
limited means for “instant” communications. Limitation
exists around the throughput and cost.
 Most terminals provide up to 512kbps or thereabouts.
 All are Pay As You Go, with variable costs from US$8/Mb to
$20/Mb
 GPS, SOS Emergency & robustness
Portable BGAN Data Terminals Vehicle Mounted BGAN Thuraya IP

24. Emergency L-Band Examples
 50 Satphones provided for UN Agency
 Delivered in specialised Cases
 Fully Managed

25. VSAT
 Typically VSAT gives you an always online
solution unlimited use, via satellite for a fixed
price per month
 Accessibility defines size and style of antenna

26. Emergency VSAT examples

27. FLYCAST™
Manual
FLYCAST™
Auto
FLYCAST FLYAWAY™ FLYCAST TRAILER™
Emergency VSAT examples

28. 1.2m Ku Band manual antenna
Field Communications
Unit (FCU)
Accessories Box
Accessories Box
o 4W BUC
o LNB x 3
o AC-DC PSU
o RG6 Cable
o Handheld Meter
Field Communications Unit
o iDirect X5 Modem
o Wireless DECT phone
o RJ11 phone jack + 2 x RJ-45 ports
o Wi-Fi via 802.11 g/n with 30-80m range
o Ruggedized, weatherproof case
Emergency VSAT examples

29. Case Study Examples in use – Cyclone Yasi
“The SpeedCast FlyCast satellite
system supported our fire
operations in both Cardwell and
Tully in the immediate aftermath of
Tropical Cyclone Yasi. We were in
a situation where we had initially
no power or communications and
the system allowed us to
communicate and effectively
manage tasking, resources and
damage assessments.
Just today, the system is being
moved into our base of operations
where we are providing support to
Red Cross and a number of other
agencies that will provide a
wireless network for all to use.
The system has been of great
advantage to us during this period
and supplemented our existing
systems well“
Steve Rothwell
Assistant Commissioner

30. Combined Coverage: Ku/Ka Band
Powered by:
SpeedCast operates a communications network comprised of space segment on 40 different
satellites and 30 teleports

31. Combined Coverage: C-Band
Powered by:
SpeedCast operates a communications network comprised of space segment on 40 different
satellites and 30 teleports

32.  Independently researching and developing the “best fit” solutions
for customers across the Pacific – supplier and technology agnostic
 Everything Satellite, to Everyone, Everywhere (One Stop Shop)
– GEO; Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat, AsiaSat, ABS, Apstar, INMARSAT Global Xpress
– MEO; O3b
– LEO; Iridium, other MSS & M2M
– Lower costs through our scale
– Seamless Managed Services (VSAT, O3b, L-BAND)

33. Complementary GEO, MEO & LEO Technology

34. Recent Example in Fiji

35. Immediately following the Disaster…
 The effected population “look to local providers to provide and
keep up the communications channels”
 Local service providers need “instant network units for own
storage and deployment”
 “the reason we don't want to be renting the unit every time there
is a cyclone because during major disaster situations we have
prolonged flight disruptions - therefore our main motive is to
buy the units outright and keep it on ground here and quickly
deploy as and when required.”

36. Ways to improve
 BE PREPARED LOCALLY (Satphone + VSAT)
– Field Communications Kit
– Keep Training & testing up to ensure operation when
required
 KNOW WHO TO CONTACT
– List of Service Providers & Options; Disaster Recovery Plan

37. Real life example
 Location – Vanua Balavu,
Fiji…
 Customer –
Vodafone New Zealand
Foundation…
 Disaster – Cyclone Winston
 System – 1.2m VSAT
 Service –
SpeedCast + Intelsat IS18

38. 38
Vanua Balavu

39. 39
VSAT Packed and Loaded…

40. 40
Immediate setup to get comms…

41. 41
Commissioning the VSAT…

42. 42
Setting the dish…

43. 43
Connected…

44. 44
Registration & Calling

45. 45
Training for a relocation

46. 46
Training and upskilling

47. 47
VSAT relocated

48. 48
Communicating with the outside world

49. Māuruuru roa!