May 5, 2015: The Nepalese Army brings USAID relief supplies to a distribution point in Sindhupalchowk, Nepal after the April 25 earthquake. Photo: USAID

[Via Satellite 06-30-2015] X-band satellite communications company XTAR, in partnership with CopaSAT, Tampa Microwave, MTN and the Santander Teleport is donating satellite communications resources to relief efforts in Nepal following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck on April 25. The satellite operator is providing no cost space segment through the XTAR-EUR satellite. The Santander Teleport is providing access to its 12 meter X-band hub antenna in Spain, and in Nepal, Tampa Microwave personnel installed a 95 cm X-band manpack terminal in a remote location. CopaSat and MTN developed the network requirements, employed a network that met those requirements and provided support to the end user.

The team collaborated with the Nepalese Army, USAID and the Christian Relief Fund to jointly provide a total of 14 Mbps of throughput to sustain operations and communications needs for ongoing rescue and recovery efforts. To date, the satellite link has assisted efforts to rebuild multiple schools and homes that the earthquake reduced to rubble.