Comments on: Bangladesh to use Satellites for disaster risk reduction - it’s logical http://lirneasia.net/2008/06/bangladesh-to-use-satellites-for-disaster-risk-reduction-its-logical/ LIRNEasia Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:08:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Rohan Samarajiva http://lirneasia.net/2008/06/bangladesh-to-use-satellites-for-disaster-risk-reduction-its-logical/comment-page-1/#comment-12404 Rohan Samarajiva Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:46:43 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=1648#comment-12404 I am kind of surprised that the plan is for using WorldSpace as a public warning system. Bangladesh has a good last-mile system run by Red Cross/Crescent along the coast. Why not replace those radio sets (operational twice a day in normal circumstances, if I recall correctly) with WorldSpace sets for a start. Communication itself cannot solve the problem, one needs evacuation preparedness too. So it would be a pity to not build on what currently exists. I am kind of surprised that the plan is for using WorldSpace as a public warning system. Bangladesh has a good last-mile system run by Red Cross/Crescent along the coast. Why not replace those radio sets (operational twice a day in normal circumstances, if I recall correctly) with WorldSpace sets for a start. Communication itself cannot solve the problem, one needs evacuation preparedness too. So it would be a pity to not build on what currently exists.

]]> By: Nuwan http://lirneasia.net/2008/06/bangladesh-to-use-satellites-for-disaster-risk-reduction-its-logical/comment-page-1/#comment-12402 Nuwan Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:08:33 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=1648#comment-12402 The WorldSpace receiver (unidirectional)operates on the X and L Band frequencies regulated by ITU, which means they don't need to get permission from any government to beam down their signal. Also the end user terminal devices do not emit a signal, exempting them from having to get a license from local Telecom Regulator (or gov). The tech company Vista seems to be cooking up a business plan; i.e. generate a revenue by providing some services such as informing the fishermen of the hot spots etc. There's a lot more that cam be done such as community-based radio for development, sending text files to multiple locations; for example BRAC Bank can use the data channel to update all their remote bank servers overnight, which is much faster than using the internet. The largest cost is owning a WorldSpace audio channel but the individual receivers are less than US$80. Put in prospective, a VHF/UHF Ham radio set costs as much as US$3,000 per set. Coupling a WorldSapce sat-radio with a mobile phone, total cost US$100, serves in the same capacity as a Ham radio. I'm sure the first time you wanted to own a mobile phone was to be able to contact your family more so than any other reason (http://lirneasia.net/projects/2006-07/bop-teleuse). If you see being informed of hazards is just as important then you will not hesitate to spend on a technology. The WorldSpace receiver (unidirectional)operates on the X and L Band frequencies regulated by ITU, which means they don’t need to get permission from any government to beam down their signal. Also the end user terminal devices do not emit a signal, exempting them from having to get a license from local Telecom Regulator (or gov).

The tech company Vista seems to be cooking up a business plan; i.e. generate a revenue by providing some services such as informing the fishermen of the hot spots etc. There’s a lot more that cam be done such as community-based radio for development, sending text files to multiple locations; for example BRAC Bank can use the data channel to update all their remote bank servers overnight, which is much faster than using the internet.

The largest cost is owning a WorldSpace audio channel but the individual receivers are less than US$80. Put in prospective, a VHF/UHF Ham radio set costs as much as US$3,000 per set. Coupling a WorldSapce sat-radio with a mobile phone, total cost US$100, serves in the same capacity as a Ham radio.

I’m sure the first time you wanted to own a mobile phone was to be able to contact your family more so than any other reason (http://lirneasia.net/projects/2006-07/bop-teleuse). If you see being informed of hazards is just as important then you will not hesitate to spend on a technology.

]]> By: diti http://lirneasia.net/2008/06/bangladesh-to-use-satellites-for-disaster-risk-reduction-its-logical/comment-page-1/#comment-12384 diti Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:16:25 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=1648#comment-12384 They dont have any permission from our goverment bodies, How come they said that they will launch in Oct 2008. Who will pay for this receivers me or the goverment? 15000? 10000? 5000? forget who will buy, i wont! They dont have any permission from our goverment bodies, How come they said that they will launch in Oct 2008.

Who will pay for this receivers me or the goverment?

15000? 10000? 5000? forget who will buy, i wont!

]]> By: Rohan Samarajiva http://lirneasia.net/2008/06/bangladesh-to-use-satellites-for-disaster-risk-reduction-its-logical/comment-page-1/#comment-12299 Rohan Samarajiva Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:44:48 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=1648#comment-12299 More relevant question is whether Bangladesh can afford the cost of not having a good early warning system. More relevant question is whether Bangladesh can afford the cost of not having a good early warning system.

]]> By: Zahid Hossain http://lirneasia.net/2008/06/bangladesh-to-use-satellites-for-disaster-risk-reduction-its-logical/comment-page-1/#comment-12202 Zahid Hossain Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:45:08 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=1648#comment-12202 Definitely logical, no doubt. But can Bangladesh bear the cost of such technology? Definitely logical, no doubt. But can Bangladesh bear the cost of such technology?

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