Immediately following the terrible tragedy that struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and the surrounding countryside in January, Akron’s VSAT Systems, which has satellite broadband Internet customers across Haiti and the Dominican Republic, began receiving requests from both sides of the border, as customers found themselves at the center of disaster response and human relief. VSAT Systems immediately stepped in with opened bandwidth to assist rescue efforts.

“I am writing to address how we have been and will continue to use our satellite account with your company to provide disaster relief communications in response to the earthquake that occurred in Haiti on January 12, 2010,” wrote one customer on the ground in Haiti. “With use of our satellite account, we have been able to locate all of our project staff and their families and supply them with critical relief. Now we are to lead several disaster relief projects, supporting the relief efforts in many capacities. With vital relief efforts in mind, we greatly appreciate your acceptance of our request to open the throttle and to expand our bandwidth capacity.”

But that wasn’t enough. Haiti needed even more. VSAT Systems immediately contacted satellite and hardware partners to coordinate emergency bandwidth for a limited time. “Any governmental or aid agency customer seeking disaster communications for Haiti,” said VSAT Systems’ Sales Engineer, Matthew Glaize, “can, for a critical window, have access to nearly unlimited service. Our satellite partners worked with us to open the pipes so disaster response customers can use their VoIP phones or personal computers to communicate with governments, hospitals, and aid agencies worldwide.”

“Until March 15, 2010, customers have “open access” to VSAT Systems’ network,” said VSAT Systems’ President, Mike Kister. “Our Haiti Relief Network can support hundreds of simultaneous VoIP calls or Internet sessions. We have made this network available to our existing customers in the region, and would now like to offer this access to other relief organizations who have unmet communications requirements. Our Sales Engineers have been on-call virtually around the clock since these events began to unfold. If we can assist your organization in fulfilling your Haitian relief mission, please contact us immediately.”