[SatNews] Disaster management in Turkey will be improved with this Company's technology...

Working with local partner, Gate Elektronik, Hughes Europe will provide satellite communications support to the Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness (ISMEP) project currently underway in Turkey. As part of the initiative, Hughes Europe and Gate Elektronik will provide full Voice over IP (VoIP) and broadband data connectivity using the Hughes HX satellite communications platform. An HX hub in a new government building in Istanbul will connect with satellite routers at 12 offices in the surrounding region, providing essential back-up in the event of an earthquake or flooding which can potentially damage the primary terrestrial or GSM wireless infrastructure. Funded jointly by the World Bank and European Central Bank, ISMEP is a major initiative to implement best practices for disaster management in a highly-populated part of Turkey which is particularly vulnerable to seismic activity. In addition to maintaining emergency and ongoing communications following an earthquake, the high-throughput satellite broadband solution will allow large volumes of seismic data to be transmitted, enabling detailed analysis of activity and early warning of future threats. Construction of facilities is underway in Istanbul and outlying locations, and installation of the Hughes system should be completed by Gate Elektronik before the year's end.