Vodafone deploys portable tower in Uttarakhand

Vodafone India has deployed a portable tower in Uttarakhand to help provide uninterrupted communication in the flood-ravaged areas, said to be the first in the country.

''This is the first time ever that such a network has been installed and used in the country. Since it is portable, it can be easily dismantled and reinstalled at another location, especially in times of crisis, depending on the on-ground situation,'' Vodafone India said in a statement.

A portable base transceiver system (BTS or tower) was airlifted and deployed at a relief camp setup by the local administration in Mayali Village (between Tehri Garwal & Uttarkashi) in Rudraprayag District.

The system being portable, can be dismantled and reinstalled at another location, especially in times of crisis, depending on the on-ground situation, it said.

Four charging stations were also transported to the area. The GSM operator, through Vodafone Foundation, is also donating Rs78.75 lakh (£85,684) for relief work in the area.

Vodafone Foundation has partnered with Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), which already has supporting infrastructure in place, for distribution of relief kits.

Vodafone Foundation has partnered with Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), which already has supporting infrastructure in place, for distribution of relief kits. The company has also set up helplines, providing free calls and extending talk-time credit to people stranded in the region.

The company is also air-lifting diesel and arranging for additional batteries to run the affected sites for un-interrupted communication.

Vodafone Foundation is launching 'Operation Care' to actively raise money for emergency supplies, both internally from Vodafone India employees and externally in association with SAMHITA, a local NGO.

It has also launched two helpline numbers - 9759001234 and 9759101234 - for tracing missing people. It had also announced a slew of offerings including free phone calls, providing talk-time credit to customers who are unable to top up and supporting government initiatives in the region. 

Earlier this week, Chennai-based Aircel deployed teams of free mobile communications centres (See: Aircel sets up free communication facilities in Uttarakhand) manned by its employees in Uttarakhand to help the flood affected.