Aiming to provide critical communication links in the Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Hispasat, Cisco and Digicel, among other industry leaders, have reached an agreement.
The Spanish satellite operator will deploy a high-speed satellite network to aid local relief efforts in Saint Martin, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Turks & Caicos.The satellite network is based on ground infrastructure from VT iDirect, space segment from Hispasat Amazonas 3, Cisco VoIP networking, and Red52’s satellite teleport services.
The network will be leveraged by mobile operator Digicel to immediately restore cellular services and community support services, providing families, first responders and relief workers with Internet access and voice and video services.
“In these cases, telecommunications are essential and satellites can make them available to first responders and communities affected by disasters,” said Carlos Espinós, CEO of Hispasat. “In this way, we help those affected to communicate with their families and facilitate the coordination of rescue teams so that the region can begin to recover from the catastrophe.”
The connectivity effort is being funded by NetHope, an organisation that connects non-profit organisations with technology innovators across the globe.
