9W2WOC: ITU Asia-Pacific Centres of Excellence Training Workshop on Effective Use of Telecommunications/ICT in Response to Disasters: Saving Lives

Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
24-28 November 2008.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with financial support from the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE), Australian Government, and jointly with the ITU ASP Centre of Excellence (CoE) Network UUM Node in Malaysia, and the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications (MEWC), Government of Malaysia, is organizing a five-day “ITU Asia-Pacific Centres of Excellences Training Workshop on Effective Use of Telecommunications/ICT in Response to Disasters: Saving Lives". The Training Workshop will provide hands-on training on deployment and use of various telecommunication/ICT equipment and facilities such as satellite terminals, amateur radio, ad-hoc wireless networks, and VSAT. The training will also focus on vital ICT applications such as GIS and tele-medicine used in relief operations.

The Training Workshop focuses on concepts and hands-on training on various technologies and applications applicable and suitable for deployment aiming at facilitating rescue and relief operations in emergencies and especially in the aftermath of disasters. The Training Workshop aims to:

*Make awareness and demonstrate telecommunication technology options, facilities and services applicable for use in response to disasters or emergencies especially in disaster relief operations;

*Provide practical experience to participants in using the telecommunication/ICT facilities and services for disaster relief operations;

*Strengthen partnerships in disaster relief among international agencies/organizations, NGOs, Industry, and governments as well as encourage roles of public sector or NGOs e.g. radio amateurs, volunteers, etc.; and,

*Identify issues, gaps in countries in order to find ways for improvements or overcoming the issues or challenges.

Country delegates are invited to contribute country papers and presentations which will be presented and discussed during the course, by e-mail to Mr. Wisit Atipayakoon ( wisit.atipayakoon@itu.int ). The papers or presentations should address, but not limited to:

1. Nature of disasters and socio-economic impact.

2. Issues and challenges in applying telecommunications/ICTs for all phases of disaster management.

3. Existence of policy, regulation, and plan concerned to communications for emergencies and disasters.

4. Recommendations for action plans and ways forwards.

To register for the Training Workshop, participants are kindly requested to complete the attached registration form and send it to wisit.atipayakoon@itu.int by 7 November 2008 at the latest. ITU will provide one full fellowship covering air ticket and daily subsistence allowance (DSA), to ITU Member Administrations or authorized nominations. Kindly fill in the attached fellowship request form with all complete details and send it with your registration form. Due to limited seats and budget availability, the fellowships will be awarded on a first come first served basis and priority shall be given to Least Developed Countries and Low-Income Developing Countries and to candidates submitting a country paper or presentation for the workshop.

There are no training fees for this Training Workshop. Please contact wisit.atipayakoon@itu.int with any general queries you may have related to this event.

ITU is inviting sponsors for the Training Workshop. The sponsors may lend equipment or services, applications for demonstration and hands-on training, or may provide experts to the Training Workshop. These can be, but not limited to:

*VSAT system
*HF/VHF/UHF radio equipment
*Satellite phones and/or satellite broadband terminals (with airtime)
*Wi-Fi / Wi-Max demo
*Satellite applications e.g. remote sensing demo, GIS, etc.
*Telemedicine application

Stellite Phone Scenario