ITU Asia-Pacific Centres of Excellence Training Workshop on Effective Use of Telecommunications/ICT in Response to Disasters: Saving Lives

Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
24-28 November 2008

International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with financial support from the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE), Australian Government, and jointly with the ITU ASP Centre of Excellence (CoE) Network UUM Node in Malaysia, and the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications (MEWC), Government of Malaysia, organised a five-day “ITU Asia-Pacific Centres of Excellences Training Workshop on Effective Use of Telecommunications/ICT in Response to Disasters: Saving Lives". The Training Workshop provided hands-on training on deployment and use of various telecommunication/ICT equipment and facilities such as satellite terminals, amateur radio, ad-hoc wireless networks, and VSAT.

Over 100 participants including country delegates, speakers, and local participants attended the Training Workshop. Of the total number, 31 international participants were from 22 countries while 62 local participants were from Malaysia.

The Training Workshop focused on concepts and hands-on training on various technologies and applications such as satellite communications, radiocommunication, Internet-base applications and etc. which are applicable and suitable for deployment aiming at facilitating rescue and relief operations in emergencies and especially in the aftermath of disasters. The Training Workshop aimed at:

* Making awareness and demonstrate telecommunication technology options, facilities and services applicable for use in response to disasters or emergencies especially in disaster relief operations;

* Providing practical experience to participants in using the telecommunication/ICT facilities and services for disaster relief operations;

* Strengthening partnerships in disaster relief among international agencies/organizations, NGOs, Industry, and governments as well as encourage roles of public sector or NGOs e.g. radio amateurs, volunteers, etc.; and,

* Identifying issues, gaps in countries in order to find ways for improvements or overcoming the issues or challenges.

Country delegates were invited to present country papers in which the Training Workshop received 12 papers and presentations.

During the hands-on training, system demonstrations were made to the participants who were also given opportunities to try out voice and data communications over the satellite and radiocommunication as well as through the Internet. In addition, a group of amateur radio voluntarily coming from different places of Malaysia helped demonstrate set up of various types of radio equipment such as HF, VHF, UHF and applications over the radio links.

Other demonstrations and hands-on training included sets up and uses of satellite broadband terminals/phones, VSAT, public wireless networking systems, radio in the box, web-based applications, and etc.