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Hurricane Katrina, 2005

Satellite Companies Unite to Support Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina continue to unfold along the Gulf Coast, satellite companies are playing a crucial role in supporting disaster recovery efforts. From providing emergency communication services to deploying mobile satellite terminals, these companies are leveraging their technology and resources to help those in need.

Key Takeaways:

  • Telenor Satellite Services and Global Relief Technologies (GRT) partnered to provide rapid data management collection capabilities and mobile satellite communications to the 2nd U.S. Marine Expeditionary Force and FEMA, enabling them to collect and transmit critical data with exact GPS coordinates.
  • Globalstar deployed over 10,000 handheld satellite phones to customers in the Gulf region, primarily to government agencies and relief workers, within the first week following the storm.
  • XM Satellite Radio launched "Red Cross Radio," a station providing updates on relief efforts and information for Hurricane Katrina victims, Red Cross staff, and volunteers.
  • EMS Technologies Inc. supplied communications hardware to support restoring communications in the stricken areas.
  • Stratos Global Corp. and Inmarsat teamed up to provide free satellite-based communications services to allow victims and relief workers to contact family and loved ones.
  • Eagle Broadband provided its Satmax non-line-of-sight satellite communications technology to the U.S. Army at no cost, enabling satellite-based voice and data communications in non-line-of-sight environments.
  • Echostar Communications Corp. is providing television service and raising money for victims, setting up television service in nine shelters and implementing a fund-raising drive among its employees.
  • DirecTV launched a dedicated 24/7 "Hurricane Katrina Information" channel providing information regarding relief and recovery efforts.
  • Orbit One Communications supplied thousands of satellite telephones and satellite-based asset tracking units to national, state, and local agencies.
  • Iridium Satellite LLC quickly moved mobile satellite communications equipment into the hands of first responders and saw their traffic in the region increase by over 3,000 percent and subscriptions increase by over 500 percent in the first 72 hours of the disaster.

Statistics:

  • Globalstar deployed over 10,000 handheld satellite phones to customers in the Gulf region within the first week following the storm.
  • Iridium traffic in the region increased by more than 3,000 percent and the number of subscribers increased by more than 500 percent in the first 72 hours of the disaster.
  • Telenor Satellite Services and GRT partnered to support a combined 2nd U.S. Marine Expeditionary Force and FEMA effort.

Sources:

  • Telenor Satellite Services
  • Globalstar
  • XM Satellite Radio
  • EMS Technologies Inc.
  • Stratos Global Corp. and Inmarsat
  • Eagle Broadband
  • Echostar Communications Corp.
  • DirecTV
  • Orbit One Communications
  • Iridium Satellite LLC
  • [Copyright 2005 Access Intelligence, LLC. All rights reserved.]

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