Re-establishing communications in a disaster
Doug Umbers, Managing Director of VTC Communications, unveils a new combination of capabilities to help re-establish communications infrastructures inside disaster areas
The collapse of communications is the crippling side effect of most natural and man-made disasters. Without this, the public cannot find out what to do to survive, find aid and keep in touch with the outside world.
Formerly part of the BBC World Service, VTC has a history of working with disaster relief and international peacekeeping organisations to quickly re-establish fixed and mobile communications infrastructures in areas devastated by conflict and extreme weather. It is now launching its latest approach to providing essential communications support to crisis zones, from getting messages to those in need fast, to building a full replacement communications infrastructure.
The new offering from VT C involves three distinct phases of activity:
1) Sending messages into the disaster zone
• VTC will transmit critical messages into disaster regions within 24 hours of a disaster striking. It can do this over short wave radio and reach 98% of the globe.
2) Setting up a communication centre within the disaster zone
• VTC will provide on-the-ground production, communications and localised broadcasting facilities as soon as transportation into the area is possible. This can be through an easily portable production and transmission unit in a suitcase or a more robust flight-case option that can be used for longer periods of time. For mobile solutions VTC develops customised vehicles that let users produce, communicate and transmit programming across any area where they can drive.
3) Building a new permanent communications infrastructure
• VTC will expertly design, build and operate a permanent new communications infrastructure once the crisis has abated.
VTC can provide the right combination of production, communications, transmission and power facilities to meet the individual needs of the crisis. It has also invested £2.4 million in a new Media Management Centre that will offer around the clock support to customers as they look to re-establish communications in disaster areas.
According to Doug Umbers : "We cannot stop disasters from happening, but we can help those affected by implementing fast emergency communications solutions. VTC goes beyond the remit of traditional broadcast services to offer bespoke crisis management solutions, providing a bridge between broadcasters and their audience. We can help to manage the urgent need to communicate when a disaster strikes and then plan for the future. Our solution will quickly send messages into disaster zones, promptly establish a longer term base within the area and finally re-build a permanent communications infrastructure."
