Disaster relief efforts through South and Southeast Asia will be augmented by a new partnership between Ericsson and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (SingTel). The is the first time that the volunteer initiative Ericsson Response has partnered with an operator.
The primary role of Ericsson Response is to establish essential mobile communications to support humanitarian agencies and other partners in carrying out their humanitarian and natural disaster relief work.
The new partnership will see SingTel provide satellite services from countries where its regional mobile associates operate. These associates – among them Advanced Info Service (Thailand), Bharti Airtel (India), Globe Telecom (Philippines), Telkomsel (Indonesia) and Warid (Pakistan) - will provide local resources to assist relief efforts, allowing for faster deployment of emergency communications services in the event of disaster.
Hui Weng Cheong, SingTel CEO International says: "In collaboration with our regional mobile associates and Ericsson, we hope this partnership will help mitigate the effects of disasters in the region and make a difference to the communities in which the SingTel Group operates."
Rima Qureshi, Senior Vice President of Ericsson Group and Head of Ericsson Response, says: "We welcome this opportunity, together with the SingTel Group, to support humanitarian operations and the citizens of the region with standby disaster communication services, should the need arise.”
"Since Ericsson Response was founded in April 2000, hundreds of Ericsson employees worldwide have volunteered, trained and deployed in 40 disaster relief operations in 30 countries. We are ready to use our experience and skill in disaster relief situations wherever and whenever needed", she added.
In Southeast Asia, Ericsson Response has already supported projects in Vietnam, Indonesia and Pakistan. The team was called on following the Asian Tsunami of 2004.
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