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Improving mobile communications during disasters focus of new UN partnership

Improving mobile communications during disasters focus of new UN partnership

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The United Nations telecom agency has teamed up with a United States-based wireless services provider to improve mobile communications in preparing for disasters and in responding once they strike.

As part of the agreement, Qualcomm Incorporated will donate a compact, easy to operate and deployable base station worth nearly $500,000 to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to boost the capacity of the UN agency to deploy mobile telecommunications to help countries in disaster preparedness, as well as in response and recovery.

Sami Al Basheer, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, welcomed the alliance, noting the vital impact it will have on helping countries when emergencies strike.

The Qualcomm Deployable Base Station (QDBS) “brings with it the wireless technology that is so essential in bridging the telecommunication gap when terrestrial networks are knocked out by natural disasters,” he said.

Through its Wireless Reach™ initiative, Qualcomm works with organizations such as ITU to bring wireless technology to those who need it most.

“We are proud to work with ITU and provide a useful system to enhance their emergency communications programme,” said Shawn A. Covell, Senior Director of International Government Affairs for Qualcomm.