Inmarsat gets behind Team Rubicon to assist with emergency response efforts

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Inmarsat is partnering with Team Rubicon UK, a military veteran-led disaster response NGO, to enhance its capabilities by providing satellite communications equipment and extra manpower in the form of volunteers.

Team Rubicon was founded by two US Marines in the wake of the Haitian earthquake in January 2010. Seeing the devastation of that natural disaster, the two defied government and aid organisation advice and flew out to Haiti to put their Marine skills to use in the response and recovery efforts.

Coordinating resources

Stuart Lane, Director of Field Operations at Team Rubicon in the UK commented on their work and how Inmarsat will enhance it: “We are developing a wide variety of skillsets, and so we can offer a range of emergency response solutions – from the early stages of disaster response, where a lot of the work is the immediate support of communities and assessment and prioritisation of tasks to save and protect lives, to the latter stages of reconstruction.

“A key part of disaster response and recovery is organisation and coordinating resources so that actions make the maximum impact. Communications are fundamental to establishing this – many people want to help in a disaster, but when they aren’t coordinated effectively they can actually hinder emergency response efforts.

“As we have discovered in previous deployments, where we have sometimes had problems with connectivity in the field it has adversely affected our ability to establish reliable communications, and therefore to make a difference on the ground as a team.

Communication networks

“Inmarsat will help us to overcome this problem by providing satellite phones, Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN), IsatData Pro (IDP) and Global Xpress technologies, which connect to their communications networks, providing a stable and secure connection.

“This enables us to coordinate our work internally and reach-back to UK for subject matter expertise and remote support; whilst tying in with other agencies wherever we are in the world.

“Inmarsat’s technology has already proved incredibly useful in the field, improving both our abilities to help co-ordinate relief efforts and to let the world know what is happening in disaster-afflicted areas. We are delighted to be enhancing our relationship with the world’s leading mobile satellite communications provider.”

Inmarsat Greyshirts

Under the partnership, Inmarsat employees will have the opportunity to train with Team Rubicon to become a Greyshirt, a trained Team Rubicon volunteer. This will lead to the deployment of Inmarsat staff to disaster zones to help, specifically with the use of Inmarsat equipment, but also generally with other important jobs, assisting affected communities.

On average, there is a significant disaster every two years, but at any given time there are countless disasters going on around the world.

“This partnership with Inmarsat will help us to act even more decisively to help rebuild countries and save lives,” continued Stuart Lane.

Significant partnership

Paul Gudonis, President of Inmarsat Enterprise, military veteran and Team Rubicon Greyshirt has led the initiative within Inmarsat. Commenting on the significance of the partnership for Inmarsat he remarked: “Inmarsat’s origins lie with the United Nations, as an NGO established by the International Maritime Organization to establish a satellite communications network for the maritime community and to therefore help people safely traverse the oceans.

“This commitment to helping people through technology lies at the heart of who we are, and we’re really excited to bring this capability to an organisation that is doing fantastic work.

Team Rubicon leverages the invaluable skillsets of military veterans to help people in disaster zones – an incredible service that we are delighted to support.”

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