When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September of 2017, much of the island’s communications infrastructure was destroyed or damaged. While first responders faced a host of problems immediately following the storm, lack of communication was one of the most immediate.
Terrestrial communications infrastructure such as cable, fiber and cell towers are susceptible to natural disasters, and repairing them can take weeks or even months.
Satellite connectivity has the distinct advantage of being able to restore communications almost instantly.
As a World Economic Forum article states:
“In times of disaster, basic connectivity is a form of aid that connects people to the resources critical for survival and enables humanitarian organizations to quickly deliver life-saving information.”
Viasat and Expedition Communications paired up after Hurricane Maria to provide critical disaster recovery connectivity to clinics throughout Puerto Rico.
This video gives an overview of how satellite communications can help restore communications when disaster strikes.
