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INMARSAT: Inmarsat services deployed in Haiti emergency responseJan 13, 2010 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Inmarsat has announced that its mobile satellite communications services are being deployed to support emergency relief efforts in Haiti, which was hit by a severe earthquake yesterday, Tuesday 12th January. Inmarsat-sponsored Telecoms Sans FrontiAres (TSF), the United Nations agency responsible for emergency telecoms support, has dispatched a team equipped with Inmarsat mobile voice and broadband terminals from its American base in Managua, Nicaragua. Further reinforcements will shortly leave from TSF's international headquarters in France. The TSF teams will use Inmarsat BGAN and Mini-M to provide essential communications services - a critical requirement for co-ordinating the early stages of the response - for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO), and other NGOs arriving to assist with relief efforts. Along with the electricity and water supplies, the country's cellular and terrestrial telecoms network is damaged beyond use, and Haiti is effectively cut off. Satellite communications now provide the only means for communicating to, and within, the country. After the initial emergency response, TSF will offer communications for the local population, enabling them to call family and loved ones. TSF estimates that up to 5.4 million people could be affected by the humanitarian catastrophe. Inmarsat is offering additional support to government and NGO users in the region, including the United Nations, WorldVision, and other first responders and navies that may join the relief efforts. The ability of the Inmarsat-4 satellites to dynamically reallocate spotbeams to areas of high demand will ensure that spectrum is available to essential government and aid operations in the immediate region. About Inmarsat Inmarsat plc (LSE: ISAT) is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. The company's services are delivered through a global network of more than 500 distribution partners and service providers operating in 180 countries. For the year ended 31st December 2008, Inmarsat plc had total revenue of US$996.7 million (2007: US$576.5 million) with an EBITDA of US$531.2 million (2007: US$388.1 million). CONTACT: John Warehand, Inmarsat Tel: +44 (0)20 7728 1579 Tel: +44 (0)7739 778 128 e-mail: [email protected] WWW: http://www.inmarsat.com ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected]. |