Emergency satellite Wi-Fi services will soon be expanded to hundreds of community evacuation centres throughout Western Australia, ensuring people who evacuate their homes during emergencies have mobile reception and internet access.
Local governments can now apply to have NBN satellite-connection devices installed, free-of-charge, at a nominated evacuation centre within their area.
When the centre is opened to the community during a natural disaster, people will be able to make phone calls or use internet services from that location, even if the existing land-based telecommunications network has failed.
In Western Australia, 370 of these devices have been made available under the Federal Government’s Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters program.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and the WA Local Government Association (WALGA) will manage the applications and provide recommendations to the Commonwealth to ensure those communities vulnerable to natural hazards such as fires, cyclones or floods are prioritised and supported.
DFES Executive Director Corporate Services Richard Burnell said the devices would provide a vital service to the community during emergencies.
“During a bushfire or cyclone, community members and stranded visitors may not have phone reception or internet access if the communications network has been damaged or power has been lost,” Mr Burnell said.
“It can be highly distressing for those people to have no way of contacting family or friends, or to have lost access to vital safety and health information resources.
“While these satellite-connection devices are active during an emergency, people inside the buildings will be able to make urgent phone calls and use the internet.
“We have already established 19 of these services as part of a pilot program targeting some of Western Australia’s communities that are most vulnerable to cyclones or bushfires. These include Karratha, Jarrahdale, Margaret River and Denmark.
“I encourage every local government to consider applying for these devices, particularly those in high-risk areas.”
The Commonwealth will pay for both the installation and operating costs for the first three years.
The NBN satellite Wi-Fi services comprise just one of several initiatives being progressed in Western Australia to improve telecommunications resilience.
Other investments include upgrading batteries at mobile phone towers so they remain active for longer periods when power is cut off, and providing portable satellite emergency communications equipment.
Applications for emergency satellite Wi-Fi services are now open and can be found at https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/stand
Queries regarding the program can be directed to stand@dfes.wa.gov.au.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE AUSTRALIAN EMERGENCY SERVICES MAGAZINE
