ITU activities for Emergency Communications and Disaster Relief

1
ITU activities for Emergency Communications and
Disaster Relief
Global Standards Collaboration (GSC) 14
DOCUMENT GSC14-XXXX-nn
FOR PRESENTATION
SOURCE ITU
AGENDA ITEM PLEN 6.2
CONTACT(S) R. Scholl, K. Hughes

• Kevin Hughes, BR
• kevin.hughes_at_itu.int
• Reinhard Scholl, TSB
• reinhard.scholl_at_itu.int
• International Telecommunication Union

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Highlights Radiocommunication (1)

• Prediction and Detection Meteorological
  services (Met-Aids, Met-Sat) Earth Exploration
  Satellite Service
• Alerting Amateur service Broadcasting services
  (terrestrial and satellite) Fixed services
  (terrestrial and satellite) Mobile services
  (land, satellite, maritime)
• Damage assessment and Relief Amateur service
  Broadcasting services (terrestrial and
  satellite) Fixed services (terrestrial and
  satellite) Mobile services (land, satellite,
  maritime) Earth Exploration Satellite Service

Regulatory role
Standardization role
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Highlights Radiocommunication (2)

• Databases relating to safety of life and rescue
  operations
• Available frequencies for use in emergency
  situations and guidelines on the management of
  radiocommunications (Res 647 (WRC-07), Res ITU-R
  53)
• Maritime mobile Access and retrieval System
  (MARS)
• Regionally Harmonized Frequency Bands for Public
  Protection and Disaster Relief
• preferred frequency bands listed in Res 646
  (WRC-03)
• Study Group activities
• Spectrum management guidelines
• Recommendations, Reports, Handbooks providing
  technical basis for development and operation of
  the radiocommunication services used in the
  various phases of emergency and disaster
  situations

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Highlights Telecom standards

• Add-ons to existing system specifications
• Early warning delivery (X.1303/CAP)
• System override for emergency message broadcast
  audio, audiovisual, text
• Extension of short text messaging to fixed
  telephones (circuit-switched and IP/soft-phones)
• Definition of methods to address multiple
  languages and communication for persons with
  disabilities, in particular for IP-based systems
• Definition of object identifiers for X.1303/CAP
  messages (OASIS / WMO / ITU) New
• Definition of pre-allocated channel number for
  3G mobile cell broadcast use (Ongoing)

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Strategic Direction (1)

• Stimulate ITU-R Study Groups to develop technical
  bases for telecommunication and radio systems
  employed in the prediction, detection, alerting
  and relief phases, including guidelines relating
  to the management of radiocommunications in such
  situations
• ITU/BR response to Resolution 647 (WRC-07) by
  establishing a database of available frequencies/
  frequency bands for use in emergency situations,
  based on information provided by administrations
  (see BR Circular Letters 281 and 283)

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Strategic Direction (2)

• New standards should build (add-on) on existing
  infrastructure, not require a total revamp
• For new systems (e.g. NGN) emergency response
  functionality built-in from the start
• Coordination with all stakeholders
• PCP-TDR (Partnership Coordination Panel)
• Governments, industry, IGOs, NGOs
• Assistance to other groups
• E.g. assistance for spectrum management in
  disaster relief deployments by UN OCHA / WGET
• Participation in events
• WMO Common Alerting Protocol (CAP, X.1303)
  Implementation Workshop (Geneva, 22-23 June 2009).

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Challenges

• Consistently involve all stakeholders, in
  particular users of emergency communications
• Diversified community, not only traditional
  telecom experts
• Standards work is contribution-driven
• Sensitive area (as it involves sovereignty,
  security, etc)
• Respect national sovereignty when developing
  specifications
• National regulatory frameworks
• Encourage wider deployment of standards
• Education, awareness and preparedness
• Not a purely technical field.

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Next Steps/Actions

• Continue updating of database of frequencies/
  frequency bands based on membership responses to
  BR Circular Letters re Res. 647 (WRC-07)
• Ensure ITU Study Groups take due account of
  emergency communications and disaster relief in
  their activities and initiate/enhance activities
  where necessary
• Encourage all relevant stake-holders to recognize
  the vital role that telecommunications and radio
  systems play in disaster management
• Encourage collaboration between ITU and other
  international organizations' involve with
  disaster relief