ICO Global and DBSD North America deploy mobile satellite services for Haitian rebuilding efforts

RESTON, USA: ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Ltd (ICO) and its subsidiary, DBSD North America Inc., have deployed satellite-based communications terminals with Internet access for use by relief agencies in Haiti.

The terminals, known as CFK-100s, operate in the 2GHz S-band, and can be used in both mobile and fixed environments. They were installed and activated on February 17 and are being provided as part of relief efforts of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Service is being provided through the G1 satellite, which was launched in April 2008.

The equipment and airtime are being provided free of charge under the terms of a 2007 Memorandum of Understanding between ICO, the ITU and the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), which called for assistance, technology and airtime in response to natural disasters.

Laptop computers and peripheral equipment are being provided for the project through a financial grant from the Hong-Kong-based RYTHM Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the QI Group, a member organization of the CBC. In addition, technical services to support the initiative were donated by Space Systems/Loral, manufacturer of the G1 satellite; Intelsat, a leading provider of fixed satellite services worldwide; and Hughes Network Systems, a provider of two-way satellite communications technology for the G1 satellite.

“I am pleased to acknowledge the ICO donation of vehicle mounted satellite terminals for coordinating ongoing response activities in Haiti,” said Dr. Hamadoun Touré, Secretary General of the ITU. “The equipment is providing on-the-move high-speed data communications which has proved critical for government humanitarian agencies that are still grappling with providing essential services to millions of victims of the recent earthquake. ITU looks forward to continued cooperation with ICO in future humanitarian and general ICT development initiatives.”

“Communications satellites are uniquely capable of providing vital connectivity in circumstances where terrestrial networks either don’t exist or are inadequate or impaired, as we are unfortunately seeing in Haiti,” commented Benjamin G. Wolff, chairman and CEO of ICO Global. “Providing critical mission support to relief agencies in Haiti is yet another powerful demonstration of the flexibility and capabilities of next-generation mobile satellites such as G1.”

“The biggest challenge facing the international community is the social and economic empowerment of the people of Haiti,” commented Dr. Mohan Kaul, director general of the CBC. “Satellite connectivity being provided by CBC members ICO Global and QI Group through RYTHM Foundation will aid and abet in laying the foundation for everlasting growth so that people can start living and planning month to month, year to year and put a stop to the current living of day to day.”