Real time data collection validates Australian meteorological agency predictions

Duluth, GA – ViaSat Inc. and customer Smart Digital Communications Bhd recently played key roles in a tsunami alert warning system following an earthquake during the second week in September in the Indian Ocean. Telemetry and tracking information was transmitted over a ViaSat LinkStar® satellite network operated from the Smart teleport in Kuala Lumpur. Terminals on the Cocos-Keeling Island and Christmas Island, Australian territories located to the Northwest of the mainland, collected real time data to validate the accuracy of tsunami predictions.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology had predicted the heightened waves would hit Cocos-Keeling at about 12:30 pm local time, and data gathered by the Smart satellite communications network showed the prediction to be correct. Fortunately last month’s earthquake increased wave height by only 15 cm for 10 minutes, but the system will be ready for warnings of major tsunamis as well. The tsunami warning system terminals are owned by the Australian BoM and information is shared with agencies in Malaysia and Indonesia.

About Smart Digital Communications
Smart is one of the largest VSAT (very small aperture terminal) satellite broadband service providers in Southeast Asia, with over 2,500 sites connecting through its teleport in Technology Park Malaysia. The company also provides cellular infrastructure to mobile communication carriers. The Smart service coverage includes Malaysia, Russia, China, Hawaii, Hong Kong, the Indian sub-continent, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and numerous Pacific islands.

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