National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems NCEC Lessons Learned Post Katrina Satellite

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National Conference on Emergency Communications
Systems (NCEC)Lessons Learned Post
KatrinaSatellite Communications Systems for
Emergency Disaster Recovery

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Americom Government Services Background
An independent, wholly-owned US subsidiary of SES
Americom serving USG SATCOM since 1973 Part of
SES Global, the worlds leading commercial
satellite Group, offering a fleet of 42
satellites with a long-standing record of
technical, financial and six-sigma (99.9999)
operational excellence Turn key services with
the strength of a Global Satellite Operator
providing satellite capacity, teleport,
hybrid custom network solutions, equipment,and IP
platform networking services, to meet a wide
range of secure requirements for fixed,
transportable, and mobile applications
Broad, Diverse Government SATCOM Services
Experience for over 30 years
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Post Katrina/Rita.Lessons Learned Satellite Is
Part of the Solution

• To ensure redundant, resilient and reliable
  interoperable communications networks, satellites
  must be a required component of all disaster
  recovery communications networks under
  consideration by the US Government
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is
  currently examining a range of emergency
  communication proposals, including proposals to
  ensure interoperability. Satellite systems
  should be emphasized and included in the early
  planning of these initiatives.
• The required technology, capacity, and services
  are available today from commercial satellite
  operators to corporations, government users and
  consumers across the globe.

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Lessons Learned Satellites Are Essential to
Disaster Recovery Reconstitution of
Infrastructure

• Nearly three weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit
  the Gulf Region, the terrestrial communications
  networks in the region were still not
  functioning
• Only 60 percent of the cell phone networks were
  working properly
• 70 percent of the broadcast stations were
  functioning
• Roughly two million calls per day were still
  failing
• The resulting lack of communications
  infrastructure severely impeded the ability of
  first responders and others in their disaster
  relief and recovery efforts.
• While the outages on terrestrial networks surged
  in the days following Katrina, satellite networks
  were providing reliable communications services.
• When the terrestrial telephone and broadcast
  networks went down.satellites communications
  provided the
  needed critical redundancy.

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Lessons Learned Pre-Position Equipment and
Capacity

• We learned after 9/11, the Hurricanes in Florida
  in 2004, Katrina and Rita, and the recent
  earthquakes in Pakistan, satellite equipment and
  capacity need to be there before the disaster
  strikes.
• Pre-positioning mobile satellite phones and
  terminals, small satellite dishes (VSATs), and
  satellite radio receivers near anticipated relief
  areas enables more rapid deployment in the
  aftermath of a disaster.
• The Government needs to facilitate a wider
  pre-positioned deployment of these assets by
  ensuring that satellite capacity and equipment
  become part of the comprehensive redundant
  communications solutions used by first responders
  during the planning stages, rather than at the
  last minute.

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Lessons Learned Satellite Personnel Need Access
to Restore Networks

• The day after Katrina hit, satellite
  installation and repair crews were ready to begin
  restoring communications. Unfortunately, too
  many of these professionals couldn't get
  permission from officials to enter the area.
• Satellite service providers and their
  technicians should be allowed into disaster areas
  to restore critical communications and should be
  included in preparations for such events
  (including national network redundancy planning).
  
• The DHS/NCS National Coordination Center (NCC)
  supports this needed coordination through
  Federal agencies and its commercial members
• By credentialing such individuals and companies
  as first responders through agencies such as
  DHS/NCS-NCC, we can enable critical satellite
  infrastructure providers to get into the affected
  areas to restore vital capabilities without delay
  or interference.

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Lessons Learned Satellite Spectrum Must Be
Preserved and Protected

• Satellite networks are uniquely able to deliver
  redundant, reliable, and resilient communications
  and meet the demands of the public safety
  community.
• The availability and widespread deployment of
  satellite networks depends upon the satellite
  industrys access to adequate spectrum free
  from interference.
• The satellite industry believes that
• U.S. government policy must ensure that existing
  satellite spectrum be preserved and protected
  from harmful interference both at home and
  abroad.
• The FCCs rules and policies should afford
  satellite operators sufficient technical
  flexibility to continue to meet the needs of the
  public safety community.
• The US Government should refrain from taking
  actions that undercut international allocations
  of spectrum for satellite use.

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Commercial Fixed Satellite Services Solutions
Deployed

• Following the first wave of responders in
  support of Katrina, Fixed Satellite Services
  (FSS) were deployed for both critical and
  non-critical communications needs supporting
  higher broadband voice, DSL/data, and video
  restoration.
• These applications were both fixed, and
  transportable pending the need. Those utilizing
  FSS included
• Federal, state and local governments
• Schools, churches and local relief organizations
• Businesses (Telcos, Healthcare, Banks,
  Insurance, and Enterprise)
• News organizations
• Gas, Electric, and Water Companies
• Red Cross - Emergency Communications Response
  Vehicles (ECRV)

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FSS Example Transportable Satcom Terminals

• Rapidly deployable, Broadband Field
  Communications

• SmartPointtm Terminal
• Ruggedized Auto-Pointing/Auto Acquisition
• Rapid Deployment/Easy Setup
• lt30 minutes from cases to network access
• AGS Developed Software and Hardware
• 1.0 1.2 meter options
• 4 25 Watt Ku-Band options
• 4 Rugged Transit Cases for easy shipment
• IP Network Configurations
• DSL and above data speeds
• Wireless LAN and VoIP Options

• Early Adopters
• FEMA/NCS/NCC ISAC
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• US NAVY/ SPAWAR/US Army

The Equipment precedes the Network
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FSS Example Broadband Comm-on-the-Move

• Secure Two-way broadband IP connectivity while on
  the move
• Pre-positioned and operational bandwidth, hub
  equipment,
• and backhaul infrastructure supports
  rapid deployment
• Managed Network Service provided on AGS owned
  and
• operated hubs and terrestrial
  infrastructure
• Hub connectivity to Siprnet, Niprnet, GIG
  Services, etc. via AGS teleport
  pops.
• Spread spectrum Ku-band Connectivity
• 512Kbps on the uplink, 10Mbps on the downlink
• Enables FCC/ITU compliance
• Shared architecture for efficient transponder
  usage
• RF and IP design optimal for blockage mitigation
• Each region supported by its own hub and spoke
  architecture
• in the United States, IOR or POR.
• Antenna Size, and structure to accommodate HUMV
  or similar vehicle roof mount.
• 18 inch or smaller tracking antenna with fast
  acquisition
• Low profile antenna under development (10-14
  inches high)

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FSS Examples State Government Custom Networks
Using VSATs

• Emergency Response Homeland Security State
  Governments
• Supplemental Network to existing Police/ 1st
  Responder Radio System using Pre-Positioned Very
  Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs)

Custom solutions Unique to each
Application/Requirement
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AGS Project Red Phone Service Concept
Readiness
Response
Recovery

• Recovery Communications .Broadcast recovery
  information content to all state, county and
  local municipal buildings over a private video
  network (IP Prime development).
• Temporary Network support post incident high
  bandwidth communications needs by public and
  private personal with mobile broadband
  communications on the pause (SmartPoint terminal)
  and on the move (MBB development).

• Backup Communications.. . Provide voice and data
  communications in the event of primary
  communications failure.
• Incident Area Network support incident high
  bandwidth communications needs with mobile
  broadband communications on the pause (SmartPoint
  terminal) and on the move (MBB development).
• Interoperability.support voice and data
  interoperability requirements by interconnecting
  remote networks with satellite communications.

• Preparedness Communications and
  training.Broadcast training and general
  information content to all state, county and
  local municipal buildings over a private video
  network (IP Prime development).

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AGS Project Red Phone Service Concept
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Recommendations

• Satellites must be an essential component of
  critical communications networks.
• Satellite capacity and equipment must be
  pre-purchased and pre-positioned.
• Satellite operators and personnel must be
  credentialed as first responders.
• Satellite spectrum must be preserved, and
  protected from interference.

Satellites Redundancy, Ubiquity,
Interoperability
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http//www.americom-gs.com
Global MILSATCOM Conference 24/25 November 2003