1. ITU Focal Point for Emergency Telecommunications
The Critical Role of Emergency Telecommunications in Disaster Mitigation Symposium on Multi-Hazard EWS for Integrated Disaster Reduction Geneva May, 2006
Dr. Cosmas L. Zavazava
HEAD, LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, SMALL ISLANDS &
ITU Focal Point for Emergency Telecommunications

2. Telecommunication standardization - network and service aspects
WHO WE ARE
190 Member States
700 Sector Members
ITU
Helping the World Communicate
ITU-D
Assisting implementation and operation of telecommunications in developing countries
ITU-T
Telecommunication standardization - network and service aspects
ITU-R
Radiocommunication standardization and global radio spectrum management

3. MULTI-HAZARD NATURE OF EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS

4. Aftermath of a volcanic eruption in Ecuador, 2002

6. Earthquake in Kashmir, 2005
54,000 people dead, 72,000 injured, 3 million rendered homeless.
Infrastructure and telecommunication services affected (road network, electricity, water supply)
67 main and transit telecom exchanges were destroyed.
Rehabilitation and reconstruction cost of the telecom exchanges is about USD 30 million.

8. Role of Emergency Telecommunications
Government
authority
A speaker
Beach public address system
Early
Warning
Centre
Disaster Management
Headquarters
Public address system
Indoor receivers
Citizens
Government
authority
Public-Service
Vehicles
(Fire engines)
Fire Division
Headquarters
Public-Relations Vehicle
(Official Vehicles)

9. CHALLENGES
National
Regional
International

10. National Infrastructure: last mile Regulatory framework
Legal framework
Policy and Practice

11. Regional Infrastructure: interconnection issues
Regulatory framework harmonization
Legal framework harmonization
Best practices

12. National & Regional (Technology: Mobile access)

13. National & Regional (Technology: Internet access)

14. International Access issues Coordination Financing
Regulatory and legal frameworks
Enforcement mechanisms

15. International: Some Have … Some Don’t (5 least connected developed and 5 least connected LDCs)

16. STRATEGIES

17. National and Regional (Technology Issues)
ICT should be high on the national development agenda
ICT should provide a link for all citizens
Introduce low-cost, affordable ICT/telecommunication technologies
Focus on Community based approaches rather than households (universal access rather than universal service)

18. National & Regional (Regulatory issues)
Licensing issues
Frequency management
Interconnection agreements
Cross-border movement of telecommunications equipment

19. National & Regional (Policy issues)
Technology policy
Stimulating the
economy by fostering innovation
and technological development
Industrial policy
Shaping industrial structure
stimulating structural change,
supporting competitiveness =
Growth and employment
ICT policy
Needs to redefine
sectoral policies,
boundaries, institutions
and regulations
To include disaster
mitigation methods
Media policy
Defining the framework
for provision of electronic
media content (audio and visual sector)
that include disaster risk reduction
Telecommunication
policy
Creating and shaping resilient
transmission infrastructure (provision
of communication services)

20. International Improved coordination
Adoption of appropriate treaties such as the Tampere Convention
Open standards that can help interoperability of networks and prioritization of calls
Multi-stakeholder partnerships
The “Tampere Hall” in
Tampere Finland, where the
Treaty on Telecommunication
For Disaster Mitigation and Relief
Was signed on 18 June 1998.

21. CONCLUDING
REMARKS

22. ICT: Relevant at every stage of disaster management
Prevention
ICTs
Disaster
Preparedness
Early
Warning
Disaster
Response/
Relief

23. ICT Deployment: Riding on Convergence
Broadcasting TV
ICTs for
Disaster
Mitigation
Broadcasting
Radio
Info. Technology
Internet
Wifi, Wifi-Max
Telecoms
Fixed
Mobile

24. ICT for all Disasters
Volcano
Earthquake
ICTs
Tsunami
Flood
Fire

26. THANK YOU zavazava@itu.int Tel: +41 22 730 5447