A friend indeed

Jul 1, 2010 12:00 PM, By Karl Fuchs

The flexibility and ease of use provided by COTM systems let disaster-relief teams focus on what they do best

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A superior COTM solution facilitates high-speed IP communications via satellite that is completely independent from the terrestrial infrastructure. Any emergency team can have full communication capabilities, whether it is in a densely populated urban area where the infrastructure is damaged, or in a remote and isolated location where no infrastructure exists.

A single-hub chassis installed at the agency headquarters can support relief operations at any location and across a wide geographic footprint. From this location, network operators can configure, monitor and control all remote access sites, and even customize services to meet individual site requirements.

In the field, portable satellite routers, which weigh only 10 pounds — including the power supply — can be transported easily and deployed instantly under any conditions. Each compact satellite router includes a satellite modem and an IP router, and provides TCP optimization over satellite, QoS and prioritization, and optional AES encryption. The routers are user-friendly and reliable, enabling field teams with little or no technical expertise to easily set up and activate the system from any location.

The COTM system's centralized management, combined with user-friendly and easily deployed satellite routers, allows response teams to quickly adapt to any emergency situation where systems and services must be transported and configured on the fly.

As a pure IP-over-satellite solution, the best COTM system delivers a complete portfolio of broadband access services over the air. Any mix of voice, data and video applications can be fully supported. Such flexibility of a COTM system to support any communications medium is important. For example, there are times when first responders need video to get a true picture of an incident while they are en route.

Let's consider a scenario where a tractor-trailer carrying hazardous materials has been involved in a serious accident on a major highway, a visual look at the number of vehicles involved and the layout of the accident can help in knowing how many ambulances to dispatch to the site. Additionally, public-safety officials can see the hazardous container's symbol from the video feed. This will alert them to the type of spill for which to prepare, letting them plan their response while en route, radio for special equipment needed and take other necessary actions to mitigate the situation.

COTM's ease of deployment makes it a perfect solution for first responders who need to concentrate on what they do best — assess the situation and save lives. First responders do not require a technical background to get a COTM system working quickly. The plug-and-play satellite communications system can be set up in minutes, enabling portable communications with high bandwidth for voice, data and video telecommunications between a vehicle and headquarters.

Rapidly deployable satellite broadband is crucial, often holding the only key to mission-critical information. COTM provides the real-time secure and reliable video, data and voice transmissions that first responders, public safety, government organizations and other support entities require, delivering communications while in transit as well as at the incident site. As advancements in COTM technology keep improving communications options, it likely will be a critical component for any first-response team.

Karl Fuchs is vice president of engineering for iDirect Government Technologies.

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