High-tech contributes hugely in Doksuri rescue missions

Affected by Typhoon Doksuri, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province and nearby regions have experienced extreme precipitation along with communications being interrupted. China's three telecom operators responded as soon as possible, all devoted to restoring communication services in the affected areas, reported Securities Daily on Aug 7.

The public communications services at some of the township-level in Beijing are being fully restored and work is being carried out around reconstruction and reparations on the damaged equipment, according to China Mobile Communications Corporation.

Technologies like drones, emergency telecommunication vehicles and satellite phones have all played a vital role in the process of rebuilding the rescue communication "lifeline" of the major telecommunication operators.

An aerial-base station drone equipped with China Unicom's emergency communication system lifted off in several areas of Mentougou district, where communications were blocked, in Beijing on Aug 4 to help people in the area reestablish their lost connection with the outside world, said the report.

Moreover, it also allows staff to transmit the optical cable by drone to send it across the river, greatly saving effort and ensuring the timely restoration of smooth network communication in the affected area.

Satellite communications have also been put into good use during the rescue.

A China Telecom rescue engineering vehicle successfully entered the front line of rescue in Gaoyakou village on Aug 2, in Changping district, Beijing, and personnel from Beijing Telecom and China Telecom Satellite Company have completed the installation, and effectively restored the communication services in the surrounding area.

China Telecom has urgently coordinated the operation and delivery of more than 1,820 satellite phones to Beijing and surrounding areas for the rescue mission, said the report.

Satellite portable stations and emergency supplies were also carried to the areas most in need like Beijing's Fangshan and Changping districts, and Hebei's Langfang district by personnel in the first instance.

The restoration of communication is still being undertaken by the telecom operators and they will focus on restoring the communication services in the peripheral areas, according to relevant staff.