CITEL adopts recommendation on use of GMPCS in emergencies and relief operations

After several years of debate and discussion, the Permanent Consultative Committee II on Radiocommunications including Broadcasting took the important step of adopting a Recommendation for use by member states which provides guidance on how global mobile personal communications systems (GMPCS) can be made available quickly and efficiently in time of national emergency.

It is a recognition of the importance of immediate communications following a catastrophic natural disaster event such as earthquake, hurricane, or massive flooding.

Such events can destroy or severely damage the existing terrestrial infrastructure.

In consequence it has become apparent that the only means for quick and reliable communications are the communications services from Mobile Satellite Service (MSS)

Systems having small portable terminal which do not rely on such infrastructure.

The Recommendation, PCC. II/REC.20 (VIII-06) , MEASURES TO ENSURE AVAILABILITY OF GMPCS DURING EMERGENCIES AND NATURAL DISASTERS, recognizes that the deployment of MSS terminals for use in emergency situations depends of a flexible and responsive telecommunication regulatory framework which will facilitate the movement of the terminals across borders and where applicable provide for expeditious authorization procedures.

The Recommendation is consistent with the Declaration of San Jose which calls upon States,  “To develop strategies for reducing the vulnerability to natural disasters of telecommunication infrastructures and to promote the use of all types and media of communications that may contribute to access to communications in case of disaster.”

To fulfill the objectives indicated above the CITEL PCCII Recommendation recommended the following:

          1.  That CITEL Member States consider the adoption of procedures that, subject to the permitted framework for relief operations in response to emergencies and natural disasters, facilitate the free circulation and implementation of GMPCS satellite system terminals for when Administrations consider them needed.

           2.  That operators of GMPCS systems carry out the necessary procedures with CITEL Administrations to become authorized for relief operations in response to natural disasters or emergencies.

           3.   Requests that Administrations that authorize the use of  GMPCS satellite system terminals for relief operations in response to natural disasters or emergencies so advise the Executive Secretary of CITEL, so that the information may be posted on the CITEL web site.  The type of information to be provided is indicated in the Table below:

              Authorized Mobile Satellite Capability Available for Disaster Relief

                                            [ADMINSTRATION]

In order for this Recommendation to be a success some of the  areas which may be necessary to be addressed include the following:

          a.  Elimination of duplication of terminal certification procedures.

          b.  Simplification of GMPCS registration procedures recognizing that it is impossible for a GMPCS operator to have subsidiary companies in every country where it might be used.

          c.  Provisions for  multiple terminal vendors

          d.  Avoidance of duplicative frequency coordination requirements

          e.  Customs barriers which make difficult the free trans-border transit of GMPCS equipment

CITEL Administrations are encouraged to take steps within their countries to take the necessary steps to facilitate the implementation of this Recommendation at their earliest opportunity in order to have the GMPCS capability available when needed.

Don Jansky
Rapporteur on GMPCS issues
PCC.II