Experts discuss role of mobile communication in disaster preparedness

KATHMANDU:

A two-day workshop on ‘Mobile Industry Disaster Preparedness’ kicked off today. The event has been organised to share best international practices, and also identify and discuss gaps in the country’s disaster preparedness. The workshop aims to help define steps to bridge existing gaps so that country’s communication system could ensure disaster response, helping people during emergencies like earthquakes.

Kyla Reid, head of Disaster Preparedness Programme of GSM Association, during the workshop today underlined the need for Nepal government to adopt holistic approach and flexible regulatory framework to facilitate disaster preparedness and ensure that the communication system works during emergency to facilitate rescue and relief works.

GSM Association is an industry body of more than 800 mobile operators and 200 companies from across 219 countries.

“Strong mobile network alone is insufficient; an efficient disaster response requires good communication among all concerned stakeholders,” said Reid.

She added that the government, telecom companies and humanitarian agencies should share their respective plans and preparations, and work out a consolidated action plan, defining a clear responsibility and accountability on who would take care of what.

Digambhar Jha, chairman of Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) said that as communications plays a vital role in minimising damages, it was important for all stakeholders to work together and be ready for emergencies by putting proper infrastructure, action plan and proper coordination mechanisms in place.

Presently, different government agencies and humanitarian organisations are working individually and also collectively at various levels. NTA has already drafted National Emergency Communication Plan, focusing from early warning system to post-disaster communication and a guideline for vulnerability assessment of mobile towers and rectification is also in pipeline. It is presently under public consultation.

During the first day of the workshop, telecom operators like Turkcell, Vodafone, Avea and Turk Telecom of Turkey and Smart Communications of Philippines shared their practices on disaster preparedness.

Nepali mobile operators pointed out lack of flexible processes to support disaster preparedness as main hindrance. Lena Kesari Kansakar of Ncell opined that since they need to build infrastructure in public spaces, government should not dilly-dally while granting permission.

The workshop is being attended by representatives from NTA, government agencies, Nepali telecom companies, humanitarian organisations, international telecom firms and telecom regulatory authorities.

Source: THT