 Rapid response telecommunications centers  Civilian calling program  Long-Term Emergency and Emergency Prevention

 Telecom is essential for core humanitarian response activities: logistics, advocacy, security  Telecom failures undermine response ◦ Major switches/routers serving the region often damaged ◦ Cell towers may survive, but suffer from overload and dependence on damaged wired infrastructure for backhaul  Existing networks even if they survive may not be optimized for services needed at site ◦ Significant increase in mobile phone traffic needs to be served ◦ First responders need access to data services

 Our goal: to provide telecommunications services essential for the effective functioning of the humanitarian community in emergencies

Preperation before the emergency:  Framework for UN/Private sector operational collaboration ◦ Agreements with OCHA and UNICEF ◦ Agreement with Vodafone, Inmarsat, Ericcson, AT&T, C&W, PCCW…  Rapid response with predictable service deliverables and timeframes  Pre-positioned resources (staff, equipment, volunteers)

Top-class equipment:  Portable satellite equipment ◦ Easy to deploy and very reliable ◦ Worldwide coverage  Open source solutions to share the access ◦ Open source based wireless access point ◦ Customized secure & control access  Future projects ◦ WiFi mesh netorks to easily and quickly extend a wireless network ◦ Voice over IP

 No road access to Meulaboh (100Kms south of Banda Aceh)  TSF arrived by helicopter from Banda Aceh  When TSF arrived, only 10 NGOs plus Indonesian Army present, no UN  No GSM, no internet Meulaboh Sumatra

 TSF provided internet and satphone facilities for 1,5 months  Communication facilities used for: ◦ Data sharing, needs assessment and transmission between field crews and headquarters ◦ Mobilizing resources (funding process) ◦ Coordinating rescue teams in the field ◦ Advocating re crisis needs via transmission of pictures and reports ◦ Ensuring security rules compliance for staff

 Niger is ranked 174th out of 177 nations on the UNDP development index.  Recurrent drought leads to almost permanent food insecurity.  Less than 12% of the drought-risk territory is cultivable.

 Initial emergency deployment: ◦ 2005 food crisis. ◦ 3,000,000 people affected. ◦ TSF supported the local and international relief effort of 30 agencies

 With adequate notice and data, government and aid agencies can more effectively act to avoid or address a food crisis in Niger. ◦ Niger’s SAP-powered “Early Warning System:” Data collection and assimilation to empower decision makers.  2005 crisis: No telecom and severe difficulties. ◦ Data on livestock and on agricultural revenues not arriving in time for early warning. Data collected on paper and sent by road, could take weeks or months.

 Request for a Long-Term TSF Mission: ◦ Support the National Food Crisis Prevention System. ◦ Build remote telecom centers. ◦ Provide technical support services. ◦ Develop software to enhance the system.

 TSF’s initial efforts to support the system led to the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) funding TSF to stay. ◦ Installed in 12 pilot regions in Niger in ◦ Extended to 25 regions in ◦ Extended to 37 regions protecting more than 14 million vulnerable people by 2008.

 Now, instead of on paper, early-warning food data is sent digitally. ◦ Detailed information on livestock and data from agricultural markets reaches decision makers instantly. ◦ 700,000 people benefit from this early warning system. ◦ All sites in “uncommunicative areas:” no GSM, no landline, no internet, hardly any radio.

 Local government staff gather data in collaboration with agricultural and livestock markets SIMA (Système d’Information des Marchés Agricoles) and SIMB (Système d’Information des Marchés du Bétail).  Data derived from local markets all around the country. Each telecom center covers preselected villages, and therefore markets as well.  At each satellite terminal, there is a computer connected to a small data transmitter that then sends the agricultural information to the capital.  Total monthly satellite communications cost: $100. TSF trains local staff and leaves the equipment, and then turns the system over to the local staff, providing maintenance and support from a central location.

 Thanks to the World Bank for inviting us.  Thanks to ECHO and the IT Cup Football Tournament for support in Niger and to our many corporate and foundation partners.