It was a sleepless night for almost 250,000 families across Acapulco, Mexico, and the surrounding area, as Hurricane Otis tore through the resort town at 1:25 a.m. in October of 2023.
In the morning light, residents were shocked to see just how powerful Otis’s Category 5 winds were on their battered town, as well as the realization that they were completely cut off from family and first responders.
It was the costliest cyclone to ever hit Mexico, with damages estimated in the billions, including critical communication infrastructure which was either heavily damaged or non-existent.
A critical lifeline during natural disasters
After Otis, Viasat-sponsored Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) was one of the first NGOs on the ground to assess the emergency connectivity needs of the impacted community. Using Viasat’s IsatPhone2 handheld satellite phones, TSF worked with the International and Mexican Red Cross to reconnect 1,300 families and residents in need.
Earlier that same year, TSF utilized Viasat technology in response to the catastrophic earthquake that hit Türkiye. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake was the deadliest quake since the time of the Byzantine Empire. Massive infrastructure damage across the country, about the same size of Germany, created major communication disruptions that severely hampered rescue and relief efforts.
Working with a Netherlands-based Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, TSF was able to quickly establish connectivity near the epicenter of the earthquake in Southern Türkiye. Using Viasat’s Global Xpress connectivity solution, TSF was able to maintain remote healthcare assistance for over 104,000 patients.
TSF’s mission in Mexico and Turkey were just two of the 14 missions carried out in 2023. Across 15 counties, TSF provided critical connectivity to over 403,900 people and coordinated with 128 humanitarian and governmental organizations, including Viasat.
“We believe that communication is a human right and that it is crucial in humanitarian situations, for both individuals and organizations. It is our duty to promote conscious and responsible use of digital tools. Our commitment to providing telecommunications is an essential part of our core values and extends - as far as possible - beyond borders.”
Monique Lanne-Petit, Director of TSF
Preparing for the worst
TSF can not only quickly react to a disaster or crisis, but also partners with organizations like Viasat to provide proactive solutions for areas prone to natural disasters.
South East Asia is one of the most natural disaster-prone regions of the world and disasters are only becoming more frequent and more severe. The Caribbean is the second most disaster-prone region in the world, with tropical cyclones, floods, volcanic and seismic activity, droughts and fires as an ever-present threat.
Recognizing the need for disaster-preparedness, TSF has been working with partner organizations, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA) in South East Asia, to design emergency telecom kits.
The goal with the kits is to be able to quickly get connectivity solutions into the hands of local response teams when disaster strikes. The kits include Viasat terminals as well as satphones.
A lifesaving partnership
Over the past two decades, our partnership with TSF has been a testament to the power of combining technology with humanitarian aid. By integrating our resources, expertise, and shared vision, we’ve been able to make a significant impact, reaching over 20 million people and supporting the vital work of nearly 1,000 NGOs across the world.
“At Viasat, our collaboration with TSF is not just about connectivity; it’s about creating a foundation for empowerment and resilience in communities worldwide. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to using technology as a force for good, so that no matter where disaster strikes, help is never far away.”
Alison Horrocks, Viasat Corporate Representative for TSF
Learn more about how Viasat supports life-saving connectivity in times of crises.