ITU Initiatives on Emergency
Communications
15-19 Feb 2016
Islamabad , Pakistan
Sameer Sharma, Senior Advisor
ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
1
ITU: A brief overview
Founded in 1865
193 Member States
567 Sector Members
159 Associates
100+ Academia
A specialized agency of the UN with focus on Telecommunication / ICTs
ITU‐R: ITU’s Radio‐communication Sector globally manages
radio‐frequency spectrum and satellite orbits that ensure
safety of life on land, at sea and in the skies.
ITU‐T: ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Sector
enables global communications by ensuring that
countries’ ICT networks and devices are speaking the
same language.
Headquartered in Geneva, 4 Regional Offices 7 Area Offices.
ITU‐D: ITU’s Development Sector fosters international cooperation and
solidarity in the delivery of technical assistance and in the creation,
development and improvement of telecommunication/ICT equipment
and networks in developing countries.
ITU: Asia‐Pacific Regional Initiatives (2015‐2018)
Initiative #1
Special Consideration For LDCs*, SIDSs**, Including Pacific Island Countries, And Landlocked Developing Countries
Initiative #2
Emergency Telecommunications
Initiative #3
Harnessing The Benefits Of New Technologies Initiative #4
Development Of Broadband Access And Adoption Of Broadband
Initiative #5
Policy And Regulation
* LDC: Least Developed Countries
** SIDS: Small Island Developing States
Disasters are on Rise!
Disasters Affect Everyone
but they impact poor and vulnerable the most
LOW INCOME COUNTRIES ACCOUNT ONLY FOR 9% OF THE WORLDS DISASTERS, BUT ……
Low
Income
Countries
48%
OF FATALIITIES
Disaster Impacts (2010‐2012)
1.7 2.9 1.2 TRILLION BILLION MILLION DAMAGES (USD)
KILLED
AFFECTED
DISASTER IMPACTS (2005 – 2014)
FINANCIAL DAMAGES (details)
Role of Telecommunications/ICTs in DRR
Services
Tasks
• Meteorological services (meteorological aids and meteorological‐satellite service) • Earth exploration‐satellite service • Weather and climate prediction. Detection and tracking of earthquakes, tsunamis hurricanes, typhoons, forest fires, oil leaks etc. Providing warning information
• Amateur services
• Broadcasting services terrestrial and satellite (radio, television, etc.)
• Fixed services terrestrial and satellite
• Mobile services (land, satellite, maritime services, etc.)
• Receiving and distributing alert messages
• Disseminating alert messages and advice to large sections of the public
• Delivering alert messages and instructions to telecommunication centers for further dissemination to public
• Distributing alert messages and advice to individuals
• Amateur services
• Broadcasting services terrestrial and satellite (radio, television, etc.)
• Earth exploration‐satellite service
• Fixed services terrestrial and satellite
• Mobile services (land, satellite, maritime services, etc.)
• Assisting in organizing relief operations in areas (especially when other services are still not operational)
• Coordination of relief activities by disseminating information from relief planning teams to population
• Assessment of damage and providing information for planning relief activities
• Exchange of information between different teams/groups for planning and coordination relief activities
• Exchange of information between individuals and/or groups of people involved in relief activities
Earth Observation Satellites & Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Allow to establish extensive and accurate knowledge of Country Situation and areas at risks
Global Navigation satellite systems (GNSS/ GPS) Allow to complement the Earth observation data with geographical ground truth Information in real time
Earth Observation Satellites and Meteorological Satellites
Allow to predict, monitor in real time, raise timely awareness and alert on disasters occurrence for rapid decision making and life saving
Satellite Communications
Essential for communicating during emergencies
Land Observations Systems
Allow to monitor different types of natural hazards and to reduce the vulnerability of the communities
Some of Recent Disasters
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Europe Floods – Germany, France, Switzerland ‐ 2013
India 2009 & 2013 ‐ Floods
Calgary, Canada 2013 ‐ Floods Oklahoma, US 2013 ‐ Storm
Super storm Sandy October 2012
Japan earthquake 9.0 and tsunami ‐ March 2011
Pakistan floods ‐ 2010 and 2011
Chile in February ‐ 2010
Haiti earthquake – 2010
China floods ‐ 2010 & 2013 And more ….
Emergency Telecommunications
• Disaster Risk Reduction e.g Early Warning Systems
– Alerts the population before, provides information during and after a disaster
– Convey information necessary for important decision‐
making during all the phases • Satellite mobile phones and terminals
– Coordination during the interventions between the different actors
 Outreach Programmes for Communities
– For all People including people with Disability Saving Lives
ICT DRR and Disabled Persons
• Blind people cannot see but can hear the commotion
• Deaf people can see the commotion but cannot hear sirens, radio announcements etc.
• Some cannot hear or see • Paralyzed people can hear and see but cannot run
• Strategies to for emergency situations must include every person not just a few Role of ICTs in Emergencies
PREPAREDNESS
Vital role – Governments develop disaster
management policies, regulation, and legal
frameworks development. Implementation of ICT
projects and capacity building activities.
COMMUNICATION
Communication with people affected is critical. Radio, Television, mobiles – Internet. MITIGATION
Early Warning Systems, Establish Evacuation Centers – Advise people. Radio, Mobile
Role of Telecommunications/ICTs in Disaster Management
Broadcasting
Hospitals
Beach public address system
Early
Warning
Centre
Disaster Management
Headquarters
Public Announcing System
Indoor receivers
Citizens
Government
authority
Public-Relations Vehicle
(Official Vehicles)
Fire Division
Headquarters
Public-Service
Vehicles
(Fire engines)
ITU & Emergency Telecommunications
Emergency telecommunications is an integral part of
Telecommunications
Development
Bureau
(BDT).
Emergency Telecommunications division implements
activities related to telecommunications/ICTs in disaster
management and disaster risk reduction.
ITU Areas of Action
ITU Framework for Cooperation in Emergencies (IFCE)
Technology Cluster
Financial Cluster
• Satellite Operators and Service Providers
• Land Earth Station Operators
• Telecom Operators
• GIS and Remote Sensing Operators
• Radio Communication Equipment Providers
• Governments
• Private Sector
• Development Banks
• Regional Economic Groups
• Philanthropic foundations
• International Organizations
Logistics Cluster
• International Couriers
• Air‐Transport Operators
• National Airlines
• International Organizations
Key Activities of ITU
Development and Review of National Emergency Telecommunication Plans
Formulation and review of Standard Operating Procedures, Policies and Appropriate Regulations
Deployment of Emergency Telecommunication Equipment for preparedness, response and reconstruction.
Human and Institutional Capacity Building through workshops, conferences and various forums. Forging Stakeholder Partnerships as a form of resource mobilization.
Project Design and Implementation (Early Warning Systems, Remote Sensing, etc) Importance of ITU’s Assistance
 Providing a communication equipment for the government that is critical in:
 Coordinating rescue and relief operations;
 Setting up telemedicine links between hospitals and medics in the field;
 Providing call centers where disaster victims can contact their loved ones.
 Coordinating infrastructure recovery/re‐building operations.
ITU Emergency Telecommunicaton Assistance ITU provides:
 Satellite Mobile Phones  Satellite Terminals  Training on Equipment if needed
 Airtime
 Freight to and from the country
 Partners donate equipment and cash
ITU Emergency Assistance
 Governments or Relief Organizations send a requests to the ITU/BDT  An agreement will be signed between ITU and the requesting country or organization
 ITU will respond quickly to send equipment
 Countries use equipment for 3 months and can be extended for a further 3 months
 Countries pack equipment and contact ITU/BDT for the freight company to use.
SAVING LIVES THROUGH THE USE OF ICTS
•
•
•
Nepal : 25 April 2015
Vanuatu : March 2015
Philippines : November 2013
•
Satellite Telephones with accessories, Solar Panels
Power of Partnerships
UNOSAT
Actions/ Projects Implemented 










Training for ATRA Afghanistan on licensing regulation (2015)
Mobile applications incubation development (2015)
ICT for energy efficiency (2014)
e‐gov Policy Strategy (2013‐14) Cybersecurity legislation (2014)
National Broadband Policy (2012), Satellite terminals for emergency communication during recent flooding and appeal to international community (2010)
Spectrum Management Policy 2010
Establishment of Pilot Community ICT Center for the USF Company of Pakistan (2007) ITU Emergency Assistance on South Asia Earthquake, Oct 2005 – Jan 2006
Feasibility Study on Spectrum Management, March 2005
Regional and Global IDI
Areas of Cooperation‐ 2016
 National Emergency Telecommunication Plan  ITU‐PTA‐ATRA Training on m‐apps (16‐26 Feb 2016)
 Hosting ITU Regional event (18‐22 July 2016)
 Regulators’ Roundtable  ITP
 ITU SG Visit
 ITU – TRAI Training on Consumer Protection (2016)  Training on digital Literacy for persons with disabilities and Cloud Computation (2017)
 Sector Membership from Industry & Academia  Sharing expertise in areas such as policy & regulation, spectrum management  Building human and institutional capacity  Any others? Pakistan Emergency Communications 







Understand the Pakistan and its Information Communication Technology (ICT) context
Review the existing regulatory requirements of the ICTs related with a disaster and emergency
Understand the Pakistan’s ICT Instruments of disaster management, activities, services, supply chains, and potential impacts
Meeting with the ICT stakeholders to understanding the needs and expectations during a disaster and emergency
Risk analysis for the implementation of the ICT Regulatory Framework for Disaster Management
Prepare a transparent, effective, efficient and central regulatory framework for provision of Information Communication Technology (ICT) services in‐order to mitigate the telecommunication impacts of disasters, which would cover before disaster, during disaster and after disaster activities
Prepare a recommendation report for bridging the gap between Pakistani and international best practices for devising the regulatory framework to mitigate and reduce their impact of a disaster to ICT and post disaster relief efforts
Train the Government of Pakistan (GoP) representatives about the Information Communication Technology (ICTs) international best practices and standards on disaster management, emergency telecommunication, business continuity management (E.g: Japan, USA)
Expected Outcome



ICT) Regulatory Framework for Disaster Management
Prepare the implementation plan Give a face‐to‐face workshop the Government of Pakistan (GoP) representatives ITU : http://www.itu.int
ITU Asia Pacific : http://www.itu.int/ITU‐D/asp/CMS/index.asp
27