Leading global provider of managed network communication solutions, IEC Telecom Group, along with their partners, showcased a range of solutions and announced new initiatives at the DIHAD 2019 (Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition) to support Middle East relief efforts in the humanitarian sector. Offerings included innovative services for e-learning, e-health as well as the first truly global on-the-move broadband service.
According to UNHCR, more than 65 million people continue to live as refugees or are internally displaced, uprooted from their homes in search of safety, and often struggling to access even basic means for survival. Broadband connectivity today plays a critical role in creating new opportunities and in accelerating innovation for this sector. Connectivity to enable aid workers in remote areas to communicate with family and friends as well as to provide refugee camps with essential education or health support is a critical component of managing crises which more often than not, occur in underdeveloped regions or areas where terrestrial infrastructure is damaged or unavailable. Moreover, the provision of digital healthcare is an essential component of meeting the immediate needs of the humanitarian sector. In fact, the telemedicine market in MEA was estimated at $2.19 billion in 2015 and is projected to reach $3.67 in 2020.
To meet these essential requirements, IEC Telecom Group and YahClick (powered by Hughes) have partnered together at DIHAD to present YahClick Enterprise solutions aimed at supporting Middle East users with e-health, e-learning, and other critical humanitarian needs. YahClick satellite broadband can have a positive impact on previously unconnected and under-served communities, extending various economic and social benefits, as well as providing them with basic services such as education and healthcare.
The technology allows for cost-effective, highly reliable and easily deployable communication services. Some examples are emergency communications such as ordering urgent food supplies or submitting security reports, setting up the digital infrastructure in rural areas, including commerce, healthcare and general governmental support, data collection and analysis in both ongoing support and emergency response and much more.
The YahClick Enterprise e-learning solution brings affordable education into the heart of rural communities providing an opportunity for students in remote areas to access the same resources as their peers in more developed regions. It also gives an opportunity for teachers to access quality and up-to-date education materials and gain access to peer-to-peer transfer of knowledge. E-learning concept can bring educational benefits with no physical boundaries as well as social and economic value by reducing costs for disseminating course materials, saving on teachers and students’ travel and much more.
The YahClick Enterprise e-health solution is a high quality, affordable platform that enables health entities to revolutionize their healthcare delivery, easily and effectively. It opens opportunities for doctors, hospitals and pharmacies to provide patients with remote telemedicine consultations, schedule appointments and provide a diagnosis amongst other critically important services.
“Providing quality education and healthcare in remote or rural locations is a massive challenge. However, with YahClick and its solution partner providers, we are now able to give access to quality education and healthcare services where it’s needed the most. As a result, clinics and healthcare providers in rural locations can have access to experienced doctors and specialists based in cities within the country, or anywhere in the world,” added Samer Bazyan, VP MENA at YahClick.
YahClick recently expanded its coverage across Africa, following the launch the Al Yah 3 satellite. Al Yah 3 has expanded YahClick’s Ka-band coverage to an additional 19 new markets in Africa, reaching more than 60% of the population.
At DIHAD, IEC Telecom and Iridium also presented to the humanitarian community MissionLinkTM, a new Iridium CertusSM land mobile terminal developed by Thales. The MissionLinkTM delivers global L-band satellite broadband capabilities helping critical missions to stay connected at all times, even when on the move.
The Iridium Certus broadband service is the first truly global broadband service delivering reliable L-band broadband connectivity and high-quality voice service to all industry verticals, including the land-mobile market. It creates a ‘connected vehicles’ environment, allowing drivers to maintain capabilities like real-time vehicle tracking and immediate transmission of telematics information, while supporting internet, phone and email requirements. The solution offers a smooth broadband connectivity experience that can be configured to automatically switch between Iridium Certus or local cellular infrastructure. Unlike geostationary networks with limited global reach and bulky terminals, the unique architecture of the Iridium® constellation, featuring 66 interconnected low-earth-orbit satellites, enables global coverage and creation of cost-effective, highly mobile, small-form-factor antennas and terminals.
“Iridium Certus brings global connectivity for the first time to organizations and individuals constantly on the move. Together with the Thales MissionLink terminal and cellular modem, the service will smoothly transition between satellite and cellular networks, positively impacting the humanitarian efforts in the region” says Josh Miner, vice president, land-mobile line of business at Iridium. “World class partners like IEC Telecom are instrumental in helping bring this next-generation technology to the people who will benefit from it most, and we’re excited to continue our strong relationship into the Iridium Certus era.”
“Solutions, like YahClick Enterprise, Iridium Certus that we have recently unveiled together with our partners, not only enhance relief and rescue operations, but also provide additional services that are easy to put in place such as e-health, e-learning, centralized logistics, better reporting, 24/7 emergency support and more. Users from humanitarian missions, public safety and government sector, oil and gas, mining and other industries will be able to experience the new level of mission-critical mobile capabilities regardless of their location, terrain and weather conditions they work in,” added Nabil Ben Soussia, Managing Director at IEC Telecom Group.
DIHAD exhibition is organised on 12-14th of March 2019 and visitors to DIHAD can learn more about how these new solutions can help increase efficiency of many critical operations by visiting the IEC Telecom / YahClick / Iridium at Stand No C15.