Response teams and their command centers need to maintain constant communications -regardless of location or situation. Among the major challenges in disaster and other emergency scenarios is establishing secure broadband connectivity when existing communications infrastructure collapses or in remote areas beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.

 

When lives are on the line and every second counts, first responders require advanced technologies that can be rapidly deployed anywhere to support voice, video and data applications. Effective real-time communications and continuous situational awareness are essential for making high-pressure decisions in the toughest imaginable circumstances.

 

Climate change is not going away, and its impact on natural disasters is causing mobile network operators (MNOs) and regulators to rethink their emergency preparedness and emergency response strategies.

 

Weather patterns are becoming more volatile and are expected to become even more extreme in the future. In 2018, there were 58,000 wildfires in the U.S. alone, while the Atlantic hurricane season produced 15 tropical storms, including eight hurricanes. The impact of such storms on communication networks can be catastrophic. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria knocked 95.2 percent of the cell sites in Puerto Rico out of service (according to the FCC). At the same time, severed fiber connections and flooding brought down the terrestrial backhaul networks.

 

To meet the public’s ever-growing reliance on mobile communications, there is a growing interest in broadband communication that is not dependent on the risk-prone terrestrial infrastructure. This is why we are seeing more local governments, MNOs and emergency organizations adopting alternative solutions, such as satellite communications, for emergency response and disaster recovery. As more satellites are being launched we are witnessing an abundance of capacity which in turn is lowering prices, making satellite communication ever more affordable and thus a feasible solution for emergency response.

 

Independent from terrestrial and wireless infrastructure, satellite communications provide a secure and reliable solution that can be deployed quickly for disaster response or national emergencies. Its value proposition is based on the following key attributes:

 

Satellite communications are commonly the only viable connectivity option in areas where terrestrial infrastructure does not exist. Cellular backhaul over satellite solutions enable MNOs to extend network coverage to remote areas beyond the reach of terrestrial infrastructure, enabling emergency services to operate seamlessly in virtually any location. In other cases, satellite backhaul can serve as a backup solution should the terrestrial network go offline due to a disaster. In emergency situations in metro areas, the terrestrial infrastructure is often destroyed by a sudden disaster. This means that precisely when communication is most important for saving lives, it is all-too-often not available due to network breakdown.

 

Satellite is the only wireless communications infrastructure that is not susceptible to damage from disasters, because the main repeaters sending and receiving signals (on the satellite) are located outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Due to its reach and reliability, satellite-enabled solutions can quickly connect civil protection services and first responders in any location. Such solutions are proven to be a highly efficient and reliable method for supporting public safety and disaster relief.

 

Satellite is a robust alternative to terrestrial fixed or wireless technologies. Satellites have almost complete immunity from catastrophic events such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. In these emergency scenarios, satellite enables immediate vital communications for relief efforts, which otherwise could take days or weeks (and sometimes longer), to set up. 

 

Moreover, since satcom does not rely on the same last mile pipes as the terrestrial network, connectivity can often be maintained during a disaster, or be restored rapidly afterwards so public safety personnel can continue working after the primary terrestrial network fails. All that’s needed for voice and data communications is a VSAT communicating with the hub via a satellite link. 

 

Satellite communications enable easy network deployment and integration with the core network in both fixed sites and ad-hoc locations. For example, on-the-move and on-the-pause communication can be quickly set-up and deployed on vehicles to provide first responders in any location with secure and reliable voice and data communications.

 

Satellite communications systems are portable and quickly deployable, while allowing plug-and-play connectivity. In addition, satellite-enabled solutions are compatible with the whole range of communication tools used by first responders, whether based on narrow band (e.g., Tetra) or broadband (e.g., cellular LTE network) infrastructure. 

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Direct Broadband Connectivity for Voice and Data

As satellite bandwidth capacity costs continue to come down, satellite has become an affordable alternative for direct broadband connectivity. On-the-pause and on-the-move communications can support high-speed data, voice and Internet access for first responders and security personnel. This includes broadcasting alerts and messages to selected population in times of emergency over a public network.

 

Satellite-enabled solutions support a wide variety of emergency response use cases. Not only is satellite an ideal solution in rural and remote areas where deploying a terrestrial network is cost-prohibitive or unfeasible, it is also an effective backup solution for critical BTS’s in urban and other areas. 

 

Satellite backhaul can be used as a primary connection to reach remote locations not covered by the terrestrial network. In this way, remote locations enjoy high-speed services and continuous coverage independent of the terrestrial network. In the event of an emergency, satellite-enabled coverage extension ensures connectivity at remote sites.

 

Critical BTS sites in the network use a satellite connection to backup the terrestrial backhaul to ensure business continuity. The satellite connection serves as a redundant secondary network deployed in stand-by mode and is activated in the case of a primary network failure. For example, if the terrestrial network goes offline due to flooding or earthquake, the satellite-based backup network kicks in and serves as a backup until the terrestrial network is restored.

 

When the terrestrial backhaul link fails due to any type of disaster, a portable, quick-to-deploy satellite solution can be provided using a Flyaway kit. This lightweight suitcase includes the full VSAT terminal and tripod for easy and fast mounting of the antenna for temporarily restoring communication.

 

When the permanent BTS fails, fast on-the-pause communication recovery can be provided using a vehicle-mounted solution. These solutions typically comprise a Cellular on Wheels (COW)/ Cellular on Light Truck (CoLT) BTS and a VSAT terminal for handling the satellite backhaul.

 

Satellite on-the-move solutions provide first responders with reliable voice and data communications from vehicles, as well as handling backhaul for 2G/3G/4G networks. Secure, broadband connectivity improves situational awareness and response time for police and frontier guards, as well as supporting off-road emergency command & control tasks. Using on-the-move antennas, emergency personnel can communicate on their way to the scene with other vehicles and with HQ to receive live updates and coordinate rescue efforts.

 

A vehicle-based terminal with satellite backhauling can be rolled-in temporarily to provide additional coverage and increased capacity over the terrestrial link for both planned and unplanned events. Examples include emergency support for a field hospital or large gathering of refugees or displaced persons, as well as major sporting events or outdoor concerts requiring care in case of disaster.

 

Tethered balloons and drones can be deployed to temporarily fill coverage gaps at short notice and re-establish the communication network. The balloon or drone carries a 3G/4G small cell on board, while the VSAT on the ground connects to the main network via a satellite backhaul link. Such a solution is useful in providing connectivity in areas hit by natural disasters and to increase coverage as needed.

 

Let’s examine some real-world examples of how leading MNOs are deploying satellite communications solutions to enable fast and effective emergency response and backup services in both urban and rural areas.

 

EE, part of the BT Group and an operator of one of Europe’s largest 4G networks, is working with Gilat Satellite Networks to build out the world’s largest 4G Emergency Services Network (ESN). EE was commissioned by the UK’s Home Office to deliver emergency service coverage for the whole of the UK over its soon-to-be nationwide 4G network. EE’s objective is to extend LTE network coverage to over 95 percent of the UK landmass by 2020. The ESN will run over EE’s commercial network and automatically grant priority use to Emergency Services.

 

EE is using Gilat’s field-proven cellular backhaul solution to extend ESN coverage to remote areas without terrestrial infrastructure, enabling emergency services to operate seamlessly in any location throughout the UK. 

 

Gilat is in the process of deploying about 1,000 LTE satellite backhaul sites, including weather-proof VSATs. These sites will enable service in areas without terrestrial infrastructure or in other cases serving as a backup solution. Satellite capacity for the dedicated ESN is provided by Avanti’s Ka-band HYLAS satellite fleet, which covers 100% of the UK and will connect all EE LTE sites across the country.

 

The ESN enables network resilience in the event of a cell site failure, as well as providing immediate high-speed voice and data connectivity to emergency response teams in the field. Gilat’s VSAT delivers true LTE speeds to 4G handsets and fully supports encrypted data. The ESN deployment comprises both fixed and portable on-the-pause cell sites, which use a vehicle-mounted solution containing both the cell node and the Gilat VSAT that handles the backhaul.

 

Due to Portugal’s very dry summers, devastating wildfires are a common seasonal occurrence, endangering lives and causing severe damage to communication providers’ critical infrastructure.

 

In a partnership with Altice/Portugal Telecom, the Portuguese government established SIRESP, the National Emergency and Safety Network, to provide rapid service recovery in the event of a wildfire or other major disaster. Altice/PT realized that its TETRA-based emergency communications network in Portugal could not perform reliably with the terrestrial infrastructure in disaster scenarios.

To overcome the limitations of terrestrial networks, Altice/PT decided to deploy satellite backhaul as a backup service for the Tetra network. If the terrestrial backhaul fails, satellite is used to connect the core network to outlying BTS’s until the terrestrial backhaul network can be restored. 

 

More than 600 Gilat VSATs were deployed across Portugal to enable fixed and on-the-pause satellite backhauling to serve the national emergency Tetra network. The Gilat VSAT is deployed on a vehicle, while the temporary cell can be deployed on the vehicle or a fixed site. Using Gilat’s solution, the critical communications infrastructure that covers most of the country is now backed up via satellite.

 

Sprint is federally funded to assist in communication in times of emergency. Working with Gilat, Sprint has upgraded its nationwide Emergency Response Team (ERT) fleet to LTE to be prepared to rapidly provide communication throughout the US in case of disasters such as floods, hurricanes or fires. Satellite backhaul gives Sprint ERT the flexibility to bring communications into hard hit areas using SatCOLTs (Satellite Cell on Light Trucks) and Fly Away Kits to provide cellular, LTE and IP data services during times of emergency and disaster. 

 

Sprint played a vital role in restoring mobile communications to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. More than 50 Gilat VSATs were installed by Sprint’s ERT on the main island of Puerto Rico, as well as Vieques, Culebra and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Gilat’s satellite backhaul solution allowed Sprint to restore key cell sites within hours in areas where there were no communications. In addition to restoring cell sites and broadband connectivity, satellite backhaul was also used to assist emergency management officials.

 

LASCOM — Local Authorities Satellite Communication — is responsible for operating a Disaster Response system for Japan’s 47 prefectures. LASCOM required a resilient, high throughput and affordable VSAT network that could ensure communication services to local governments, individuals, and first responders in the event of a disaster. These services include voice, video feeds from disaster sites, video multicasts to local sites, emergency alerts, mobility and data services. 

 

To meet its five-year goals for national coverage, LASCOM chose to deploy Gilat’s direct broadband connectivity over satellite solution. This deployment comprises Gilat’s redundant multi-service hubs deployed in two different locations and thousands of VSATs will be deployed across Japan.

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Conclusion 

The unique attributes of satellite communication and its proven value for emergency responders make it an essential component for disaster recovery, emergency preparedness and response planning. Not only does satellite help strengthen the resiliency of communications networks, but it also contributes directly to saving lives.

 

Often in disaster situations, satellite remains the only viable connectivity solution in areas where existing terrestrial infrastructure is no longer available. Furthermore, the dropping prices of satellite capacity are making satellite communication the feasible solution to solve today’s emergency communication needs.

 

As the frequency and severity of natural and man-made disasters continues to increase, more and more government agencies and communications service providers are adopting satellite-based solutions to support emergency services and network resiliency. Gilat is at the forefront of delivering emergency service communication solutions for numerous deployments worldwide. 

 

 

Oren has published thought leadership articles in renowned international journals, and has spoken at numerous industry conferences worldwide. Oren received a BSc in Computer Science from George Washington University.

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