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Telecom giant prepares for disasters

Posted on July 2, 2015

BAGUIO CITY, July 02 (PNA) — Telecommunications giant Smart Communications is helping the Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera (OCD-CAR) make communication during times of disaster possible through two new technologies.

These innovations were introduced to the Baguio public, July 1, during the opening of the Disaster Month celebration and it may sound more like a zoo rather than high tech instruments.

According to Engr. Rowel Selom, Smart and Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Emergency Response Team leader, MEOW and its bigger cousin, COW, have been developed to meet the needs primarily of the OCD during times of calamities and disasters.

“Communication is vital during times of calamities,” stressed Selom who added MEOW stands for Multi-Element On Wheels while COW is an acronym for Cell site On Wheels.

He explained that MEOW is designed more for hard to reach areas in the country, like the Cordillera with its mountainous terrain and narrow roads, while COW is intended for more accessible locations with wide roadways.

“Basically these are mobile cellular sites which can be deployed to areas where the regular cellular site is no longer operational for one reason or another during times of disasters like typhoons,” he added.

MEOW and COW can accommodate all the services of regular cellular sites including 2G, 3G, LTE and broadband services.

“But both have limitations,” Selom said.

MEOW for example can only accommodate a maximum of 5,000 users at a time and is only meant to provide communication services while the regular cellular sites are being repaired or brought back on line.

COW, on the other hand, can accommodate a slightly higher number of users at a time.

Selom estimated the cost of one MEOW to be PhP6 million and there are three deployed in Baguio City which can be positioned at the three staging areas at Baguio City, Bontoc, Mt. Province, and San Fernando, La Union whenever the need arises.

“We can easily dedicate a line for the use of the OCD-CAR anytime so the agency can provide instantaneous information about conditions in the three staging areas to its head office and to the decision makers in Manila,” Selom added. (PNA)

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