Globalstar has announced the development of an emergency management communications system consisting of a satellite backhaul network mated to a miniaturized cellular system that allows first responders to communicate with each other, or connect to the public telephone network.
Globalstar satellite phones built into the portable unit give emergency workers access to critical information when land-based communications are unavailable, such as during and after a disaster and in remote locations.
The Globalstar Emergency Management Communications System or GEMCOMS consists of multiple Globalstar fixed phones connected to a miniaturized cellular switch, or picocell.
Using standard cell phones, emergency workers can call via Globalstar to anyone available on the public telephone network. Additionally, workers can call each other within an approximate half-mile radius. Wired telephones can also be plugged into the GENCOMS through standard telephone jacks.
“These units are definitely needed,” said Joanne Secrest of the National Communications System. “We received the unit 12 hours in advance of Hurricane Rita. Fortunately, damage from Rita was minimal, and we have deployed the GEMCOMS to St. Bernard parish which was hardest hit in New Orleans. The ability to connect via satellite from locations in-building is critical.”
Globalstar’s GEMCOMS unit is similar to one of the products that Globalstar plans to develop if and when the FCC grants an authorization to deploy an Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC). Instead of mating with a cellular picocell, the ATC unit would use only Globalstar’s mobile satellite channels in both mobile satellite and terrestrial modes. Globalstar filed its ATC application with the FCC in March and expects a ruling during the fourth quarter of 2005.
Bravo!
A pricey, complicated replacement for the one communication service that always works in an emergency… Amateur Radio.
I’m sure the hams will be around when this thing fails too.
I like that it uses standard cell phones. That solves several problems.
As a former scanner-geek I now that the cops, firemen, medics, etc like being able to monitor all the chatter, not just what’s directed at them. They need it really. It’s not practical to call each cop on a cell phone.
My idea is to have small fleet of communications airplanes ready-to-roll, around the nation. They could then circle over the effected region serving as a HT repeater, cell tower, digital relay, ham radio repeater, etc. .
Isn’t this the way the military does it?
The planes themselves, don’t need to be anything fancy (C130s? 727s?) but they could be kept full and up-to-date with all current communications gizmos. A satellite is pretty much fixed technology after it is launched, right? Communications needs to be very current.
Great for an emergency.
Another 5 or 6 years and I would bet the Stratellites will give another layer of communications redundency.
http://www.sanswire.com/stratellites.htm
Figure if these are really the cel towers of the future then as soon as the storm passes all communications should be back up and some areas would still have communications even during the storm – even during power outages Cel phones and Wifi would still be up and running (providing the communications link to the stratellite on the ground is sufficiently redundent and protected)