Japan: The telephone network is still running well after the disaster

Mobile connectivity is always the "most easily broken" link in natural disasters, but in Japan, technology is the priceless asset that rescue forces can get.

Like any other business, Japanese telecom networks were hit hard by the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Monday in central Niigata.

Highly adaptive to disaster

However, mobile lines and services were quickly restored, allowing survivors and lifeguards to communicate easily.

NTT Corp. telecom giant has installed public telephone booths in temporary refugee camps for earthquake victims. Although NTT is a private telecommunications company, all requests for NTT assistance are quickly responded by the Japanese government.

NTT DoCoMo (a subsidiary of NTT mobile) set up free mobile phone kiosks on the street. Any citizen can use this service to contact, even if they are no longer home to go and no devices or power sources to charge their phones.

And yet, mobile networks also install free message boards - allowing people to share information during the disaster. For example: " You can write" Everything is fine "or" Get in touch with us "for your family to read ," said an official at Softbank Mobile.

This message will be sent to the phone number you requested in a moment. In case your loved one does not have a mobile phone, or if you cannot use your thumb, a similar verbal messaging service also exists inside all phone services in Japan. , including mobile and fixed. The only thing you have to do is dial 171.

Locate the victim

Source: AFP KDDI, the second largest mobile network in Japan, also provides a radio frequency control and map service in the disaster area. This service will guide people in the safest route area.

" The system still works even when connected to a cellular network that has been cut, because it is connected directly to the GPS satellite system, " said an engineer with KDDI.

At the request of the authorities, all mobile phones sold in Japan after April this year have been equipped with GPS receiver antennas, allowing rescue workers to easier access to call locations, including even if the victim cannot determine where he / she is.

This means that nearly 30% of mobile subscribers in Japan are now "appearing" on the GPS map.

High-tech rescue

In addition, NTT DoCoMo mobile network also developed a high-tech rescue helmet, exclusively for rescue forces during the disaster.

The helmet is equipped with a high-speed connection and GPS receiver antenna, with a projector, a front-facing camera and a solar battery.

" This device allows lifeguards to automatically observe the field and understand the situation around them while their movements are not entangled, " said Tanizawa (where the hat was designed).

Every year, Japan suffers from about 20% of the world's major earthquakes. Therefore, the infrastructure "adapted" to the earthquake has been developed to the perfect country.

However, the latest earthquake has raised concerns as it leaks to the ground and into an "unspecified" amount of radioactive water. The reason is that near the epicenter of the world's largest nuclear power plant is operating.

Among mobile networks, Softbank suffered the most damage when 93 stations were damaged. NTT DoCoMo said more than a dozen of its antennas were broken and KDDI was more fortunate, only damaged three antenna columns.

Trong Cam