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Local Company Aids Tsunami Victims; Sends Employees, Special Communications Equipment to Thailand to Aid in Relief Effort
Thai refugees can now make phone calls worldwide, body recovery center able to digitally send pictures via network to ID center.
WAYNE, PA – Jan. 12, 2005 – Rajant Corporation, a Wayne based wireless technology firm, is playing an important role in assisting the tsunami recovery effort in Phuket, Thailand and helping victims of the devastation reach out to loved ones. In the wake of the disaster, the company sent employees and equipment to the region to establish wireless networks in the refugee camp, enabling refugees to speak with loved ones and relief coordinators to communicate effectively with one another. In addition, Rajant has established wireless networks in the body recovery center, which provides the center with the capability to send digital photographs to the central identification center, expediting their entry into the missing persons database.
Two Rajant employees, with the assistance of $100,000 worth of specialized company equipment, are providing this important support to the relief work in the city of Phuket. The specialized equipment, known as BreadCrumbs®, creates an instant, portable, wireless network able to operate in virtually any environment. So far, the network has supported approximately seventy simultaneous users at any given time, with the majority of them using Internet Voice over IP (VoIP) calling services to make phone calls around the world.
“When I saw the utter magnitude of the devastation, I knew that Rajant had to step forward and provide support to the disaster recovery,” said Robert J. Schena, Chairman of Rajant Corporation, who noted that Rajant has participated in numerous simulated disaster response exercises in the United States. “In disaster situations, providing a reliable communications network is one of the most difficult challenges, because in most cases the infrastructure has been wiped out. Having that communications system up and running is absolutely key in creating an efficient and coordinated recovery effort.”
“We’re just glad that we have been able to help in the relief efforts,” said Schena. “Enabling relief workers to communicate with one another and refugees to reach to their loved ones, just to let them know that they are alive and alright, makes this worthwhile.”
Users of the network include the Royal Thai Army, refugees, non-governmental relief agencies, and fellow aid supporters. There has been exceptional feedback regarding the quality of connection and users have expressed appreciation for the internet and phone capability. Rajant has also been approached by the Royal Thai Army which is seeking further information on the technology. A large American corporation also approached Rajant to inquire about donating the equipment to Thailand after Rajant employees return home.
Rajant Employees in Thailand:
Barry McElroy is a retired Chief Warrant Officer of 22 years in the Army Special Forces. His mission specialties include both high altitude parachuting as well as deep sea scuba diving. Barry has extensive military experience in SE Asia and is fluent in Thai.
Chad Bowen is a former Army Captain and West Point Graduate. He has extensive knowledge of force protection and security assessment and comes with vital knowledge regarding counter-terrorism tactics.
About the company:
Rajant Corporation develops and manufactures wireless broadband networking systems and components that have multiple applications in homeland security, public safety, security and enterprise networking sectors. Rajant Corporation’s mobile ad hoc networking system is a self-configuring, standards-based, secure, wireless network supporting voice, video and data as well as being capable of easily connecting to existing wireless and wired infrastructures.
