22 Apr 2021
IEC Telecom & Inmarsat joint efforts to deliver an e-session on “VIRTUALISATION OF HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS” at the World Humanitarian Forum 2021. Join us for discussion on 19 May at 11am-12pm (UK time).
Speakers:
NABIL BEN SOUSSIA, CEO Asia, Middle East & CIS
STEVEN TOMPKINS, Director of Market Development, Enterprise
Session overview:
The pandemic expedited the spread of digitalisation across many industries. The humanitarian sector was among the first to acknowledge the need for change. With travel restrictions and local lockdowns, isolated teams in remote areas relied a lot on the resources of their headquarters. In this context, videoconferencing, previously regarded as a privilege, became a necessity. Satellite connectivity’s role became central to the continuity of operations undertaken by remote missions, particularly for mobile units in areas with limited to no GSM coverage. Demand for hybrid (satcom/GSM) solutions increased exponentially, especially among medical missions, which had to report on pandemic figures daily regardless of their location.
With the help of satcom systems, aid agencies can set up temporary offices using semi-fixed modems, access corporate applications, manage logistics, and most importantly, rely on a wide variety of digitally extended services that enable e-learning, remote maintenance, telemedicine, and more.
The need for reliable connectivity has also increased among humanitarian camps. In recent years, many shifted to digital tracking of resource distribution to ensure transparency of onsite operations. In this regard, any disruption of connectivity can lead to the loss of valuable data and bring the whole onsite workflow to a halt.
In this session, we will analyse the demand for satcom connectivity in the humanitarian sector, assess recent trends, and predict what the near future holds for the industry.