Today’s response community and humanitarian programmes operate in a rapidly-changing environment. They demand vastly improved connectivity and more energy solutions for multiple devices, both for communication and direct service provision by way of “digital aid”. At the same time, a plethora of ever-evolving technological solutions are available globally, and a wide range of public, private and humanitarian actors are entering the technology-in-emergencies space. This environment poses many challenges, including difficulties coordinating non-traditional actors and data security concerns. At the same time, it creates opportunities for the ETC to have significantly more impact, overcoming these challenges and harnessing the expertise and resources of a global network of new responders.

Within 24 hours of an official request, the ETC network will initiate the provision of communications services to the response community, to enable them to coordinate humanitarian response, digitally interact with affected communities and deploy platforms for digital aid. In addition to connecting emergency responders, the ETC will expand communications solutions to governments and affected populations.

From preparedness, throughout the response phase and until the re-establishment of normal services, the ETC will work with governments and local operators, improving existing solutions and leveraging new, faster, more agile and easy-to-scale services provided by the ETC network, leading-edge technology partners and local providers. Equipment and services deployed will be compatible, interoperable, portable and energy-efficient, meeting pre-agreed service levels.