Wi-Max Deployed in Katrina Disaster Area

Spy Handler writes "In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina's destruction of telecom infrastructure in New Orleans, officials are turning to wireless broadband for use by government workers. Intel, a key backer of WiMax, and Cisco are donating wireless equipment to aid disaster workers. This could be a good opportunity to replace an antiquated system of copper wires with brand-new technology." From the article: "Shakouri and other industry experts contend that the devastation of Hurricane Katrina offers a chance to build the sort of modern network that phone and cable companies have promised for years. Such a network -- whether wireless or fiber-optic -- could deliver movies or medical records at speeds hundreds of times faster than current Internet connections. Telecom executives and analysts, though, aren't so sure it's the right time or place."

Comments

Surely anything helps?

[freetipe]

It may not be exactly "the right time and place", but as long as it isn't diverting skills and resources away from more critical, lifesaving activities, surely it can't hurt to have such things available?

not the right time or place??

[HyperHyper]

>>"Telecom executives and analysts, though, aren't so sure it's the right time or place."

Why is it because of the poverty level and they won't have enough clientele? Or because they will lose all the equipment once the next hurricane hits (man vs nature - my bet is on nature but that's another discussion)

Personally, I've heard New Orleans is a big convention city and wouldn't that be a good reason to "hook them up" with this technology.

If the technology is as a good as they are touting, it will draw more people to the area for meetings/conventions would it not?

Re:*Waits*

[Sheetrock]

Well, without defending them too much, it is important to keep in mind that any time you're dealing with a large amount of aid you're also dealing with infrastructure (how and when do the items arrive, where do you store them, how do you prioritize the distribution of funds, who installs and maintains donated technology, is it something that integrates into volunteer efforts without too much training or maintainance overhead to be useful, can the volunteer coordinators fit another thing into the schedule, are there strings attached to the gift, etc.)

Point being, if the help can't be deployed in a way that makes progress, it's better to turn it away than have it sit on the shelf useless or, worse, have it detract from other aid efforts that are more productive.

Re:Truth is

[SlamMan]

"They aren't 'donating' per se -- yes, they're giving it away at no cost, but it's VERY good publicity for them."

So, they're donating it.

Re:So, when is a good time?

[gui_tarzan2000]

True story - we built a new school building to replace old portables and called Verizon to move the cable over to the new building. It took three "technicians" FOUR hours to pull a 25 pair cable through a 2" conduit 50' and terminate both ends. Then they had the balls to charge us $1400!!!!!

Re:Wi-Max Infrastructure

[FidelCatsro]

Very much so , A hurricane could literally rip up the existing infrastructure causing immeasurable damage over a wide area .(think tens of thousands of broken lines and switch boxes)
Even if it destroys every Wi-Max antenna in the area it would only take a matter of hours to replace them ,plus it would be a hell of a lot cheaper .(think the man-hours , the cost of the street and cable repairs etc. Vs. the cost of a few servers and a few antennas )

Re:Truth is

[dreamchaser]

So it isn't a donation if it gives someone good press? Sorry but that is BS. A donation is a donation, whether it provides good PR or not.

There's always a silver lining.....

[smchris]

I guess.

Yes, I suppose when a major U.S. city is destroyed, that is an excellent time to follow Africa's paradoxically late "lead" and just pass over copper and even fiber in some cases.

Re:wimax?

[dbIII]

I think fresh water, food and a place to sleep are way more important.

That is a very simplistic way of looking at things and not necessarily correct. Truckloads of ice and fresh water did not get to the right places in recent days due to a lack of communication. Communications infrastructure, electricity and even computers make it a lot easier to organise fresh water, food and a place to sleep.

We get this sort of simplistic attitude exhibited whenever people mention sending any sort of gadget developed after WWII to impoverished nations, it shouldn't apply there and it shouldn't apply to the southern US - technology that does not appear to be instantly lifesaving does help people live better lives and does save lives.

Re:wimax?

[timeOday]

I think fresh water, food and a place to sleep are way more important. You'd better donate something more usefull

Another one of these comments.

Look, officials have been complaining since day 1 that a big part of the problem is communications:

As powerful winds uprooted trees, power lines snapped and flood waters poured into homes and businesses, members of the New Orleans Police Department and other emergency responders had little more to communicate with than hand-held radios and cell phones. And communication with outside agencies, officials say, was near impossible.
... The radio system "was the only thing working during the storm," Schneider said. But it didn't allow contact with local agencies, he said. The National Guard couldn't get in touch with New Orleans Police Department officers working the city streets.

The military has been aware of this issue for *decades*, that's why they invented the Internet, which allows all kinds of information to be exchanged using a standard set of protocols. That is the key to allowing different parties, that don't usually communicate, to rapidly and dynamically set up new data exchange pathways during an emergency.

Now can I rant for a minute? Every time slashdot reports a communications network is to be set up in a poor country or emergency, somebody complains that communications are superflous in such circumstances. That's insane! Ask yourself - why are cops, soldiers, and emergency responders such heavy users of communications technology? Don't they have better things to do than sit around chatting?