Satellite Network to
Support Disaster
Response Efforts in
Nepal
30 April 2015
Satellite equipment
and engineers have
been deployed to
Nepal to help
reconnect the region
as disaster recovery
continues following
the major
earthquake.
The 7.9 magnitude
earthquake, which
hit Nepal's capital
Kathmandu and its
surrounding areas on
Saturday, April 25,
has claimed
thousands of lives
and rescue efforts
are
underway. Nepal’s telecommunications
infrastructure was
also destroyed,
further hindering
relief efforts.
In order to assist
the recovery
operations, Thaicom
PLC
has now deployed a
satellite
communications
network to be set up
in the affected
areas, along with an
engineering team to
get the system up
and running so vital
communications can
be reinstated.
Suphajee Suthumpan,
Chairman of the
Executive Committee
and CEO,
said: “Everyone at Thaicom is
praying for the
victims and their
families and we
share our heartfelt
sympathy and
condolences for the
massive life losses
and
damages resulting
from the Nepal
earthquake, much of
which is still
emerging.
“During crises such
as these, satellite
is often the only
system available for
vital communications
and this system will
provide the first
means of
communications since
the earthquake. We
hope it goes some
way towards
alleviating the
suffering and
helping with the
continued search and
rescue efforts, as
well as enabling
individuals
to contact friends
and relatives.”
This
communications network
has been
delivered in
conjunction with partners
from various
sectors, such as Thaicom’s country
representatives,
business partners
and government
agencies from
domestic and
international
alliance.
Thaicom has provided
assistance after
numerous disasters,
such as the
devastating Japanese
earthquake and
tsunami in 2011 and
both the China and
Christchurch
earthquakes, among
others. When Typhoon
Haiyan struck the
Philippines in
November 2013,
Thaicom provided
satellite
communications and
instigated a support
network among
various business
partners. It sent
experts to install
communications
equipment for
victims and
officials to use in
the affected areas.
THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR),
a high throughput
satellite, provided
critical services
such as Internet and
telephone
communications in
the disaster zones.
