Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-jing visited the disaster response center in the southeastern county of Taitung to inspect its satellite communications system Oct. 23, highlighting the government’s commitment to reinforcing domestic communication resilience through collaborative efforts between central and local governmental agencies.
During his visit, Lin exchanged views with personnel from the county’s fire department on the utilization of multiple streams of communication in disaster response. To enhance overall capacity, the ministry has actively promoted the application of emerging communications network methods and conducted pilot projects with high-altitude platform stations and satellites in non-geostationary orbit, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said.
According to the MODA, severe natural disasters or emergencies often cause disruptions to landlines, cell phones and internet services, and having alternatives in place is key to effective relief efforts. The ministry added that it is vital to build more diverse communications mechanisms in the eastern counties of Hualien and Taitung considering that these two counties are frequently affected by earthquakes and typhoons.
The ministry assisted the disaster response center in Hualien during the magnitude 7.3 earthquake Apr. 3 by dispatching emergency mobile units and low-earth orbit satellites. Additionally, when Typhoon Krathon hit Taiwan in early October, six sets of satellite communications systems were provided to city and county governments in the southeast by the MODA.
The ministry vowed to continue improving and innovating digital infrastructure to achieve the largest possible effectiveness of the new communications technologies amid disasters and emergencies. (POC-E)
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from Taiwan Today – Top News