What is Emergency communication?

 Disasters like tsunami, cyclone, earthquake or war, both natural and manmade are very common in human life. We cannot prevent them, but we can be better prepared to cope up with the disasters and take necessary steps to reduce the post disaster aftermath.  The consequences of disaster are: 

  • Massive destruction of life, civilian displacement and separated families leaving in need of food, shelter and healthcare services.
  • The communication infrastructures are often seriously damaged or destroyed.

So a communication network should be available and accessible immediately after the disaster to support the post disaster rescue and recovery activities.

Categorization of technologies

We have tried to categorize the technologies based on the range of coverage are. Some other features like portability, connectivity to the internet and available services also have been added.

  • Short Coverage Area Networks
  • Medium Coverage Area Networks
  • Large Coverage Area Networks
Tool Service/s Fixed or portable? Connectivity to the Internet? Range of Coverage Uses of the service Carrier technology
PSTN/Fixed Landline phone Voice Fixed  Yes Long range technology (Few kilometers to Hundreds of kilometers) Voice communication PSTN
Internet/ email Web browsing, sending SMS via web, email, chat, Skype etc (Internet based services) PSTN 
 Fax Sending documents PSTN
Voice Voice communication PSTN
Mobile phone Voice portable Yes Long range technology (Few kilometers to Hundreds of kilometers) Direct communication, i.e. to local communities within range.  Cellular network
data – SMS as above  Cellular Network
data - Digital pictures instant transfer of images MMS via Cellular network
data – Internet services Internet based services GPRS or EDGE or 3G (via cellular network)
Satellite phones Voice portable Yes Long range technology (Few kilometers to Hundreds of kilometers) (Voice) communication in extremely remote places or others not served by cellular Network or landline infrastructure Satellite
data – sms
data – Internet services Internet based Communication services Satellite
CB radio   Voice portable No Few kilometers Low-cost  voice communication over distance Typically unlicensed Radio Frequency
Community Radio Voice portable Yes Few Kilometers Broadcast reception or two way interaction. Licensed Radio Frequency  or Cellular Network/ PSTN
Data- SMS   Cellular Network/ PSTN
Data-Video Broadcast Video reception Cable television Network
Data- Internet Data Internet based services Long Distance WiFi
TETRA Data- Voice Portable Yes Can be extended form few kilometers to few hundred kilometers Individual and group Communication Licensed Radio Frequency
Data- Internet Data Internet Based services PSTN, Satellite, WiMAX, WLAN, 3G or any other Data Network.
MANET Data- Voice, video Portable Yes Can be extended form few hundred meters to few kilometers Individual and group Communication MANET
Data- Internet Data Internet Based services Satellite, WiMAX, WLAN etc.
DUMBO Data- Voice, Video Portable Yes Can be extended form few hundred meters to few kilometers Individual and group Communication MANET
Data- Text Individual and group Chat MANET
Data- Video Individual and group Video Communication MANET
Data- Internet Data Internet Based services Satellite, WiMAX, WLAN, 3G etc.
WiMAX Data- Internet Data Portable Yes 1-20 Kilometers Internet Based services WiMAX (Licensed Radio Frequency)
WiFi Data- Internet Data Portable Yes Medium Range Technology (100-200 Meters) Internet Based Services Unlicensed Radio Frequency
Bluetooth Data Portable Yes Short Range Technology (1-100 Meters) Exchange data among fixed and mobile devices Unlicensed Radio Frequency
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