Community Connectivity During Disasters and Emergencies

unconnected.org and the Bangsamoro Information and Communications Technology Office (BICTO) partnered to bring satellite-based connectivity to communities and schools during times of disasters.

BICTO is leading the emergency telecommunications cluster in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); as such, BICTO covers functional areas of facilitating connectivity for citizens and supporting responders. 

Initially discussed during a digital infrastructure development forum, unconnected.org is implementing connectEMERGENCIES, wherein school-based Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites double as connectivity lifelines for BICTO and its related stakeholders.

This project is made possible through funding from the Internet Society (ISOC) Foundation to unconnected.org.

Follow-up discussions between unconnected.org and BICTO on how to expand the program was also conducted along the sidelines of the BIMP EAGA ICT Infrastructure Cluster Meeting. A panel on the use of LEO to bridge the digital divide within the region wherein unconnected.org served as resource was the highlight of the forum. 

With many areas under BARMM still categorized as Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), the partnership is seen as a means to boost the capability of the region to respond to disasters while also connecting communities to the internet. 

Additionally, the partnership also covers training and certification for responders, as well as local technical resources.