ITU will provide broadband and voice connectivity to speed up aid in Haiti, helping workers and local authorities to communicate more efficient in their clearing and rebuilding tasks.
The agreement states an initial delivery of 10 carrier-grade WiMAX base stations and 40 Customer Premises Equipment devices to Haiti. These will be used to set up 100 wireless hotspot locations in Port-au-Prince and other earthquake-stricken towns in Haiti.
The wireless network will help reinforce ongoing efforts to bridge the gap created by the collapse of terrestrial networks, which remain largely non-operational because of earthquake damage. Both ITU and SmartBridges Solutions experts will work together to ensure fast connectivity and wireless phone in the affected region.
The Cooperation Agreement covers all phases of disaster management and creates opportunities for ICT project co-financing in the region.
Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, commented that the ICT project would further drive the ongoing development of Haiti, calling on potential partners to join the worthy cause.
“We look forward to strengthening our cooperation with ITU in future emergencies and for the general development of countries”, added Nimesh Parikh, Chairman, SmartBridges Solutions.
So far, ITU has contributed 100 satellite terminals to Haiti, helping re-establish basic communications links in the country. The company installed a Qualcomm Deployable Base Station with complete cellular network to provide wireless communications essential to disaster relief and clean-up efforts. An additional budget of over USD 1 million was allocated to strengthening disaster response in Haiti.
SmartBridges has developed wireless communication solutions in over 80 countries worldwide. Its network wireless solutions are used for the delivery of IP-based services to enterprise and residential subscribers, Community Internet Kiosks for e-governance, school and hospital connectivity, VoIP telephony, cellular base station connectivity, remote video surveillance and industrial applications.
