Iridium Satellite has sold satellite communications equipment for use in relief efforts by two International Red Cross members, Magen David Adom in Israel and The New Zealand Red Cross, Iridium announced Aug. 6.

Interoperable with other emergency communications systems, Iridium’s equipment will provide a backup for land-based, cellular and radio telecom services when unavailable in crisis situations.

"Recent disasters have revealed the extreme vulnerability of fixed landlines and cellular phone networks, leaving first responders in affected areas unable to communicate with each other or with the outside world,” Greg Ewert, Iridium Satellite’s executive vice president, said in a statement. “Iridium … can play a key role in more efficient and effective emergency planning.”