As communities in the South Pacific Islands of Vanuatu grapple with major devastation and severe power and communications outages left in the wake of Cyclone Pam, Intelsat (NYSE: I), BT Group (NYSE: BT), and ITC Global have donated satellite capacity, equipment and manpower to help restore critical communication networks across Vanuatu.
Providing vital broadband connectivity to humanitarian and disaster relief organizations working on-site, including NetHope, BT is utilizing capacity on Intelsat 18 located at 180° East, linking via the IntelsatOne® terrestrial network at Intelsat’s Riverside, California Teleport. Satellite communications provides near-instant infrastructure, allowing restoration of communications networks and delivery of broadband connectivity to the cyclone ravaged region. Satellite service provider, ITC Global, delivered technical and engineering support to help restore connectivity at designated sites in Vanuatu. BT has also established a separate 24/7 Emergency Response Team Center (ERT) based in Madley that will solely support the relief efforts of the installations teams that are working on the ground to restore power and connectivity to the South Pacific Islands of Vanuatu.
“The ERT is a great example of how BT volunteers can use their unique skills and our own technology to make a real difference to communities around the world,” said Lisa Shattock, Improving Lives Programme Director, BT.
“Anytime there is destruction of this magnitude, it is critical that humanitarian and relief organizations are able to access the connectivity they need so that they can quickly respond and help the communities impacted by the event,” said Terry Bleakley, Regional Vice President, Asia, Intelsat. “Working closely with BT, our satellite solutions will help support the restoration and relief efforts happening on behalf of the citizens and communities in Vanuatu. Our thoughts are with those impacted by Cyclone Pam, and we are proud to be able to respond quickly with these communications services.”
“Because the technology is unaffected by terrestrial events, satellite solutions play an important role in supporting the critical work of first responders in times of natural disaster,” said Chris Hill, Chief Technology Officer, ITC Global. “We serve customers with operations in remote environments, which puts us in a unique position to use our capabilities to help with the restoration of the islands’ communications infrastructure and enable a faster, better-coordinated response for the agencies deploying to Vanuatu.”
About Intelsat
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) is the world’s leading provider of satellite services, delivering high performance connectivity solutions for media, fixed and mobile broadband infrastructure, enterprise and government and military applications. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video and broadband services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and mobile broadband access, with Intelsat, envision your future network, connect using our leading satellite technology and transform your opportunities. Envision…Connect…Transform…with Intelsat. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com.
About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of five lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, BT Wholesale and Openreach.
For the year ended 31 March 2014, BT Group’s reported revenue was £18,287m with reported profit before taxation of £2,312m. British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. For more information, visit www.btplc.com.
About ITC Global
ITC Global is a leading provider of satellite communications to the energy, mining, and maritime markets. Companies in remote and harsh environments require communications with both global coverage and unwavering customer service. ITC Global enables improved real-time decision making and enhanced health, safety and environmental management through a unified communications solution, tailored to the requirements of each client. Solutions include custom network design, hardware implementation, field engineering, technical support and enterprise-grade satellite bandwidth. ITC Global operates 24 x 7 carrier-class networks across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information, visit www.itcglobal.com.
For further information please contact:
Michele Loguidice
Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Intelsat
Phone: 703.559.7372
Email: Michele.loguidice@intelsat.com