Understanding Satellite

Communications for Disaster Recovery

John R. “Ted” O’BrienVP, Market Developmenttel no 1 (301) 571-6252ted.obrien@iridium.com

Near Term Satellite Communications for Disaster Recovery

Iridium Voice Traffic in the Gulf Region August 19, 2005

Iridium Voice Traffic in the Gulf Region September 2, 2005

Estimated 8-10,000 Iridium usersin the field within 1st two weeks afterKatrina hit

3,000 % increase in traffic in theregion

• Requires only one gateway for full global operation

• No reliance on regional infrastructure or ground routing

• Voice and data service

Iridium Network Capabilities

True Global Service

Iridium Call Routing for Disaster Recovery

Iridium’s call path is highly secure and disaster proof. Calls seamlessly transit inter-satellite links, never relying on ground transport. Iridium to Iridium

calls go directly from satellite phone to satellite to phone.

Tamil Nadu, India Post Tsunami Iridium Gateway Tempe, ArizonaIridium 9505 Handset

Push To Talk: Phase 1

Talk Group A. All members on Satellite 1

Talk Group B. All members on Satellite 2

Push To Talk: Phase 2

Talk Group A. Members on Satellites 1 and 2 and others

Talk Group B. Members on Satellites 1 and 2 and others

Equipment Configurations

Multi-ChannelFixed Service

Handheld VehicularMount

Iridium Used for Disaster Recovery

• Iridium was used extensively during Taiwan Earthquake in 1999; South Pole rescue (May 2001); aftermath of September 11, 2001; Arizona Wildfires (July, 2002); New York Blackout (Power Outage in New York in August, 2003); 2004 Florida hurricanes; Disaster Relief following the Asian Tsunami in December, 2004; and the Indonesian Earthquake in January, 2005

• Iridium's Service Partners activated nearly 800 phones in the 1st two days of September, 2004 in preparation for hurricane Frances

• Iridium users and traffic in the tsunami-affected area doubled in early January

• On December 29 Iridium temporarily reopened Northern Sri Lanka communications to assist relief efforts.

In aftermath of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne that devastated parts of Florida and the Caribbean, Iridium handsets were used by Hillsborough County’s Emergency Support Function Group before landline and cell phone capabilities were restored.

Photo Near Tampa, FL; August 2004by Hillsborough County Extension Relief Team

Iridium Used for Disaster Recovery

Photos near Jensen Beach, Florida following Hurricane Frances – Sept. ’04

In response to Hurricane Frances, GMPCS provided more than 400 phones to emergency response teams, local businesses and essential public services, including Florida Power and Light (FPL).

Iridium Used for Disaster Recovery

September 11, 2001 Testimonial

“Shortly after the World Trade Towers were struck, Verizon lost all service from their West Street Central switching office. My cell phone was essentially useless, as was our landline home line. I walked out to a clear area on our street and turned on my Iridium handset.

It quickly responded with "Registered" and the signal came up. It meant more than I can say to have that call go through at that moment. I carry my Iridium handset regardless of how short a trip may be. Your service is an indispensable communications tool.”

Gerald AnzanoING Asset Management

September 11, 2001 - Pentagon Region

• Provided 450 handsets to greater DC military, law enforcement, rescue, and humanitarian forces

Needed Improvements

• User education – solution choices– Multiple systems available– Specific capabilities– Varied requirements (over time, between tasks)

• Equipment pre-positioning– Network operators, service providers, users

• User training– E.g. dialing, “line-of-sight

• Application adoption– E.g. tracking, monitoring

• Interoperability– Wide variety of systems employed