SAN DIEGO, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic
Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced its Cubic Mission Solutions
(CMS) business division has refocused its support efforts of GATR
satellite antennas and personnel to Puerto Rico to aid hurricane recovery efforts.
Working with its partners, several GATR antennas are deployed
throughout San Juan and other
areas of Puerto Rico, including
the island of Vieques.
In Vieques, a GATR antenna is currently providing connectivity
for almost the entire island including cellular service for
residents to text and call loved ones as well as internet
connectivity for a local pharmacy to fill prescriptions, businesses
to run credit cards and city hall officials to conduct business and
stay in touch with national relief organizations. It has also
helped reactivate the cell service enabling 911 dispatchers to send
medical aid and other emergency services to those in
need.
"We truly appreciate getting connected to the internet because
we have a lot of work to do," said a Vieques pharmacy manager. "We
can now refill critical prescriptions and look up insurance for our
patients who have been without their medications for weeks."
Other residents thanked Cubic's techs and one person told them
that this was a "game-changer" and he was shocked the team had
reestablished communications in less than five hours upon their
arrival.
Another GATR antenna mounted on the top of the Army National
Guard roof is providing a free Wi-Fi hotpot to disaster victims.
Additional antennas are providing the same services throughout the
island.
"We understand the importance of staying connected to loved
ones, especially during these difficult times," said Brad Feldmann, president and chief executive
officer of Cubic Corporation. "Our unique technology has
restored communications for residents of Puerto Rico and we will continue to provide
our services to help as many people as we can."
Since the GATR 2.4-meter antenna is inflatable, it can be packed
and transported in two cases weighing less than 100 pounds each or
one case less than 87 pounds for the 1.2-meter version. This
enables recovery workers to get to the islands quickly via
helicopter or small boat and establish critical
communications until traditional satellites (fixed rigid dish
technology) can be brought in to replace the GATR
antennas.
"GATR satellite systems are invaluable during humanitarian and
disaster response missions," said Mike
Twyman, president of Cubic Mission Solutions. "They
provide high-bandwidth satellite connections for rescue and
recovery responders as well as disaster victims to access to data,
video and voice communications in the most extreme
environments."
Our partners, such as Global DIRT (Disaster Immediate Response
Team – a non-profit that provides aid during disasters) and Vanu (a
cellular networking company), have also been instrumental in aiding
the efforts to restore connectivity quickly on the island.
"The GATR antennas are mission critical right now. Working
with the Cubic team and Vanu is allowing us to restore
connectivity and help the residents of Puerto Rico until
traditional satellite communications can be put in place – which
can take weeks," said Adam Marlatt,
founder of Global DIRT.
"We worked with Cubic years ago and when I learned that Cubic
was deploying satellite systems to Puerto
Rico, I reached out and offered our cellular connectivity to
the satellite deployment," said Vanu Bose, chief executive
officer of Vanu, Inc.
GATR antennas have been deployed in response to natural
disasters since 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.
Additionally, GATR antennas were utilized to aid Hurricane Harvey
recovery efforts in Houston, Texas
and Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
About Cubic Corporation
Cubic Corporation designs, integrates and operates systems,
products and services focused in the transportation, defense
training and secure communications markets. Cubic Transportation
Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information
technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for
transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Global Defense is a
leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based
training solutions, special operations and intelligence for the
U.S. and allied forces. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked
Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense,
intelligence, security and commercial missions. For more
information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at
www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp.
SOURCE Cubic Corporation