Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Kymeta In Puerto Rico: 1,800 FEMA Applications Submitted Via Satellite

The satellite Wi-Fi effort--powered by antennas developed by Redmond-based Kymeta--has helped FEMA officials submit more than 1,800 applications for federal aid, according to numbers released by telecom provider Liberty Global this week. Liberty Global--one of the companies sponsoring the "Wi-Fi" tour of the hurricane ravaged U.S. territory--said satellite Wi-Fi services provided by the company, alongside Kymeta and Intelsat, have been used by officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to complete more than 1,800 federal aid applications. The companies have three vehicles traveling alongwide personnel from the School of Medical Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and others offering relief throughout hard-hit areas in Puerto Rico. Liberty Global said, in addition to the free Wi-Fi, there have been more than 800 people cared for by personnel from the School of Medical Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), along with 10,000 hot meals served by Chefs for Puerto Rico as part of the tour. Liberty Global says it is an investor in Kymeta, via its venture fund, Liberty Global Ventures. Much of Puerto Rico is still without power, over 46 days since Hurricane Maria hit, with officials saying the island is "still in emergency mode".