Three major hurricanes in August and September caused several deaths and widespread damage across the region. Thousands are still living without communications, electricity, water and other essential services.
This week SES said it was working with Project Loon, a network of high attitude balloons that provide internet access to remote areas, to restore mobile phone service in Puerto Rico.
Project Loon is run by X, which is part of the same corporate group as Google.
According to an SES press release issued on 23 October:
“Together with local technology partners, SES Networks and X are providing reliable high-performance connectivity to Puerto Ricans whose lives have been devastated by hurricane Maria and who have limited means of communication.”
SES is also a part of Emergency.lu, an initiative organised by the grand duchy’s government to provide satellite services to NGOs working in disaster zones. That outfit has been active in helping Dominica following Hurricane Maria.
Separately, Intelsat announced its support for several aid programmes in the region, including:
- Providing supplies and satellite communications services to Global Disaster Immediate Response Team, an NGO, in the US Virgin Islands;
- Supporting BT’s Satellite Emergency Response Team in Turks & Caicos, the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla; and
- Aiding Liberty Global Puerto Rico, a local cable operator, run three wifi hotspot vehicles in the US territory.
Kurt Riegelman, an Intelsat executive, said in a press announcement on Monday:
“Satellite solutions are unique in their ability to provide near-instant communications networks in areas where disasters have crippled terrestrial infrastructure.”
