Focusing on the essentials – Satellite communication for life-savers
Amid escalating conflicts and increasing occurrences of natural disasters, we can only be thankful that our world can count on many humanitarian aid organizations to come to the rescue when things get tough. At Satcube, we have the honor to work with many emergency response organizations, such as UNHCR, ICRC or WCK, and we are always humbled by the selflessness of the field personnel we get to meet.
In an attempt to give back to the rescue community, we gathered some of the key learnings we received from those conversations, in the hope that they can help other such groups in their preparatory work.
Navigating regulatory challenges
One important point not to forget is that bringing in satellite communication into a country is not always a walk in the park, despite its critical importance in humanitarian operations. We have heard examples of such authorizations taking everything from a few hours to several weeks. While this may be frustrating, we can only stress the importance of transparency and compliance with local regulations, in order to maintain good relations with authorities and ensure continued access to areas in need.
Seamless coordination in crisis zones
Classic but essential. In zones where traditional infrastructure is often compromised or non-existent, satellite communication emerges as a lifeline. Many of our users emphasize that effective communication is not just desirable but imperative for NGOs. "We cannot send people in the field if we don't have a way to speak with them." is a testimony we have received countless times. That is why a satellite communication device needs to be part of your fly-away kit – because no rescue activities can start taking place before proper communication capabilities are secured.
Hitting the ground running
Two key criteria for satcom terminals are rapid deployability and ease-of-use - something that has always been our focus at Satcube. Our vision is that a good satellite communications terminal should not require any technical expertise to be setup and used. One of our users recounts instances where his organization swiftly deployed communication equipment to regions affected by natural disasters or conflicts. "With the Satcube terminal, you can connect a small office within minutes" he explains. “This agility is crucial in situations where time is of the essence, enabling aid organizations to establish vital communication links swiftly”.
Looking ahead: Partnerships and innovation
The collaborative nature of humanitarian response efforts, where organizations leverage each other's strengths to maximize impact has always been something we, at Satcube, have been inspired by. We have seen some of our customers use such a coordinated approach to ensure that resources are effectively deployed, with each organization contributing based on its strengths and capabilities.
As the world continues to grapple with evolving challenges, collaboration and innovation are and will remain key. That is why collaboration between emergency response actors alone is not enough. We already see and will continue to promote deeper ties between the industry and those organizations as well, where companies can explore innovative solutions to enhance humanitarian response efforts.
