Hsinchu is the first city in Taiwan to operate a “no-dead-angle” and “zero-time-loss” disaster relief system over a 5G network, it said on Friday.
Hsinchu is the hub of the nation’s semiconductor industry, and the city government must ensure that disaster effects are minimal, while relief arrives as soon as possible, Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) said.
Using 5G technology, the city has taken a step toward ensuring that people’s lives and property are safe, and that firefighters and disaster relief crews can operate swiftly and safely, she added.
Photo: Hung Mei-hsiu, Taipei Times
Taiwan is on the convergent boundary between the Philippine Sea and the Eurasian tectonic plates, putting it at risk of devastating earthquakes that could significantly damage the power grid and communication infrastructure, the Hsinchu City Fire Department said, adding that floods and typhoons are also threats.
As damage to infrastructure could result in delays to vital disaster relief efforts, the Hsinchu City Government applied for subsidies from the National Development Council to pay for the research and development of the system, it said.
Hsinchu City Fire Department Director Lee Shih-kung (李世恭) said that disaster blackouts due to the loss of traditional landlines and cellular towers during disasters greatly affect response efforts.
The 5G network system and a mobile system with satellite-receiving capabilities can ensure that on-site communication with disaster reaction centers proceeds smoothly, Lee said.
The system could be used in large-scale disasters or when undersea cables have been dislodged or cut, he said.
Working with Microsoft, the system could also access the US company’s global data center by satellite uplink to record and integrate data, making disaster relief efforts more efficient, he added.
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