ITU, Inmarsat, and Vizada SAS have reached an agreement to improve emergency communications for disaster preparedness and to coordinate relief activities in the aftermath of a disaster. Inmarsat and Vizada are donating 70 BGAN terminals, highly-portable devices capable of delivering voice and broadband data, to the ITU. The equipment will enhance ITU’s capacity in deploying mobile telecommunications to assist countries in preparing for disaster and in strengthening response and recovery mechanisms. Based on the agreement, Inmarsat and Vizada will provide ITU with preferential airtime rates and technical training support. Inmarsat and Vizada SAS provide satellite-based solutions that are critical in supporting ITU activities aimed at helping countries better respond to disasters. ITU recently launched a global initiative that seeks to bring together partners from all domains to cooperate towards disaster mitigation through the use of information and communication technologies.