The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and Qualcomm Inc. have reached an agreement to improve emergency communications for disaster preparedness and to coordinate relief activities in the aftermath of a disaster.
Under the agreement, Qualcomm will donatea Qualcomm Deployable Base Station (QDBS), which will enhance the ITU’s capacity in deploying mobile telecommunications to assist countries in preparing for disaster and in strengthening response and recovery mechanisms.
Based on 3G CDMA technology, QDBS is a compact, quickly deployable and easy to operate mobile solution for providing first-responder communications. This reliable, responsive and complete cellular system can be forward-deployed to supply vital wireless communications.
“We are delighted by this alliance with one of our development Sector Members,” said Sami Al Basheer, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau. “QDBS brings with it the wireless technology that is so essential in bridging the telecommunication gap when terrestrial networks are knocked out by natural disasters.”