Nokia to deploy 'critical communication' solutions with 'Save the Children' to drive efficient disaster response

Nokia and Save the Children have announced an extension of their collaboration on the social cause to protect children from disaster program launched in 2014 across 5 states – Bihar, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan.

As part of this collaboration which aims to “Use Connectivity to build Resilience of Children and their Communities in India”, Nokia will now deploy technology solutions to enable critical communication during disasters.

Phase 1 of the program was recently concluded in 176 villages where the Save the Children project team helped prepare communities to respond efficiently both during and after disasters by creating specific disaster management plans, school safety plans and village task-forces.

In phase 2, Save the Children will extend the program to another 174 villages and develop partnerships with relevant stakeholders – nodal department and ministries in the government and civil societies -- to strengthen the disaster resilience model in all 350 villages.

Nokia will provide its unique technology innovation – an LTE-based Network-in-a-box (NIB) solution for Public Safety Mobile Broadband. It is a system in which the main mobile network functions are integrated into a small ‘box’ and can be deployed during disasters in case the main operator run-network is impacted, to enable communication between early responders and task forces.

The solution, which will be deployed in 6 pilot villages in early 2016, will act as a standalone communication system complete with its radio, core, access and application layers. Additionally, information and communication technology will also be provided to help track the distribution of entitlements under various social protection schemes to the communities in these villages.

Sandeep Girotra, Vice President and Head of India, Nokia Networks, said, “At Nokia, our vision is to make technology more human and we believe innovative technologies can offer concrete ways to provide access to humanitarian aid and assistance during disaster. With our telecommunication technology expertise, including the Network-in-a-box solution, we can enable efficient and reliable communication between task-forces to support rescue efforts, and ensure humanitarian aid is delivered to impacted communities. We will engage with stakeholders and partner with operators for the deployment of this solution.”

Thomas Chandy, CEO of Save the Children said, “The project combines the expertise of Save the Children in the humanitarian sphere with Nokia’s proven capabilities in telecommunication technology. Through this program, we are making good progress in facilitating the last mile connectivity in bringing vulnerable children and their communities closer to government institutions for better implementation of disaster management policies and planning.”