ITU deploys 100 satellite terminals in flood-affected Pakistan
November
2010
ITU
has
deployed
100
broadband
satellite
terminals
in
the
flood-affected
districts
of
Pakistan.
In
the
aftermath
of
the
disaster,
ITU’s
emergency
telecommunications
team
has
been
working
closely
with
the
Pakistan
administration
to
restore
vital
communication
links.
The
satellite
terminals
are
being
deployed
to
restore
communications
and
provide
a
platform
from
which
telemedicine
applications/services
will
be
provided
in
remote
areas
that
remain
difficult
to
access
and
where
medical
attention
is a
priority
in
the
aftermath
of
the
disaster.
The
floods
that
ravaged
Pakistan
were
the
worst
ever
in
living
memory.
Nearly
20
million
were
affected
and
vast
tracts
of
fertile
agricultural
land
had
been
inundated.
The
battle
continues
to
rage
with
water-borne
diseases
and
malnutrition
while
the
authorities
and
aid
workers
struggle
to
provide
regular
medical
attention
to
displaced
populations.
The
satellite
terminals
that
support
high-speed
data
have
the
potential
to
provide
the
much
needed
link
between
medical
aid
workers
in
the
field
and
referral
centres
thus
providing
diagnostic
support
and
real-time
consultation
with
medical
specialists
in
far-off
hospitals
anywhere
in
the
world.
As
the
floods
raged
through
the
Indus
basin
in
August
this
year,
ITU
Secretary-General
Hamadoun
Touré
affirmed
his
solidarity
with
the
people
of
Pakistan.
Reiterating
his
support,
Dr
Touré
said,
“The
havoc
caused
by
the
floods
will
have
long-term
repercussions
on
the
social
and
economic
life
of
Pakistan.
At
this
time,
it
is
critical
to
reach
aid
to
the
survivors,
especially
those
living
in
remote,
difficult-to-access
areas.
The
broadband
satellite
terminals
deployed
by
ITU
will
help
communications
with
the
outside
world
as
well
as
provide
telemedicine
capabilities.”
Mr
Sami
Al
Basheer
Al
Morshid,
Director
of
ITU’s
Telecommunication
Development
Bureau
said
that
the
deployment
of
satellite
terminals
would
assist
government
authorities
and
aid
workers
in
establishing
communication
links
in
remote
districts,
especially
in
the
far-flung
mountainous
areas
of
the
upper
Indus
valley
where
the
need
for
medical
attention
is
becoming
even
more
acute
with
the
onset
of
winter.
