Saturday, December 6, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Why terrorists used satellite phones
The satellite phone is fast becoming the favourite gadget of tech-savvy terrorists. Investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks have revealed that terrorists used both satellite and cellular phones to coordinate the operation among themselves and carry out the deadly attacks that claimed over 200 lives.
A satellite phone, popularly known as the sat phone, is a mobile phone which uses satellites, not landline or cellular broadcasting towers, to make or receive calls.
While making or receiving a call, the signal first travels to the orbiting satellite and then to an earth-bound gateway, before being routed to the receiver. The receiver's response will follow the same path in reverse, taking an equal amount of time to reach the caller.
The mobile equipment, which is also known as a terminal, varies in size. The instrument, which is fitted with retraceable antennae, is not as sleek as a mobile phone. A satellite phone resembles the models of mobile phones that were available in Indian markets ten years ago.
Sat phones are much more expensive than cellular phones. The oldest models cost approximately Rs 10,000 while the latest model, the iconic Iridium 9505A, costs a whopping Rs 49,975.
The cost of calls made and received on a sat phone depends on the network. The three main satellite networks are the Iridium, Globstar and Thuraya. Iridium uses low orbiting satellites that minimises conversational delays, but more importantly, it is the only satellite network that provides coverage across the world, including the oceans.
Globstar covers around 80 per cent of the earth's landmasses, excluding the northern and southern polar regions.
Thuraya covers parts of India, Asia, Africa, the entire Middle East and Europe. Sat phones are specifically manufactured for a particular network and do not work on other networks.
Some companies offer sat phones on rent, and the weekly rent is approximately $24 (Rs 1,200 approximately). Although the call charges on a hired phone remains the same, some service providers do not insist on roaming charges.
The cost of making calls from a satellite phone varies between Rs 7 and Rs 99 per minute. However, calling a sat phone from a land phone or a mobile phone is extremely expensive and charges range from Rs 149 to Rs 699 per minute.
A call from one sat phone to the other costs around Rs 749 a minute, but incoming calls are free. The sat phone also offers messaging service and the rates are approximately $0.59 (Rs 25) per message.
In spite of the high rates, sat phones were the preferred mode of communication of the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai. These terrorists used the sea route to launch their attack, and the only way to communicate with their associates was sat phones, as cellular networks would have failed on the ocean.
The sat phone requires a clear line of sight to the sky. The sat phone ensures connectivity from every nook and corner of the earth, be it on top of a mountain, in the middle of an ocean or in a remote desert.
The sat phone is often used in military operations and disaster and relief operations.
In the Mumbai terror attack, the sat phones were used only when the men were traveling out in the open sea. The terrorists switched to mobile phones the moment they entered the Taj, Oberoi and Nariman House. The sim cards for these mobile phones were purchased in West Bengal.
Sat phones have proved to be ineffective when used indoors. The caller needs to stand near a window for the call to go through, and there is a considerable delay in communication.
A satellite phone, popularly known as the sat phone, is a mobile phone which uses satellites, not landline or cellular broadcasting towers, to make or receive calls.
While making or receiving a call, the signal first travels to the orbiting satellite and then to an earth-bound gateway, before being routed to the receiver. The receiver's response will follow the same path in reverse, taking an equal amount of time to reach the caller.
The mobile equipment, which is also known as a terminal, varies in size. The instrument, which is fitted with retraceable antennae, is not as sleek as a mobile phone. A satellite phone resembles the models of mobile phones that were available in Indian markets ten years ago.
Sat phones are much more expensive than cellular phones. The oldest models cost approximately Rs 10,000 while the latest model, the iconic Iridium 9505A, costs a whopping Rs 49,975.
The cost of calls made and received on a sat phone depends on the network. The three main satellite networks are the Iridium, Globstar and Thuraya. Iridium uses low orbiting satellites that minimises conversational delays, but more importantly, it is the only satellite network that provides coverage across the world, including the oceans.
Globstar covers around 80 per cent of the earth's landmasses, excluding the northern and southern polar regions.
Thuraya covers parts of India, Asia, Africa, the entire Middle East and Europe. Sat phones are specifically manufactured for a particular network and do not work on other networks.
Some companies offer sat phones on rent, and the weekly rent is approximately $24 (Rs 1,200 approximately). Although the call charges on a hired phone remains the same, some service providers do not insist on roaming charges.
The cost of making calls from a satellite phone varies between Rs 7 and Rs 99 per minute. However, calling a sat phone from a land phone or a mobile phone is extremely expensive and charges range from Rs 149 to Rs 699 per minute.
A call from one sat phone to the other costs around Rs 749 a minute, but incoming calls are free. The sat phone also offers messaging service and the rates are approximately $0.59 (Rs 25) per message.
In spite of the high rates, sat phones were the preferred mode of communication of the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai. These terrorists used the sea route to launch their attack, and the only way to communicate with their associates was sat phones, as cellular networks would have failed on the ocean.
The sat phone requires a clear line of sight to the sky. The sat phone ensures connectivity from every nook and corner of the earth, be it on top of a mountain, in the middle of an ocean or in a remote desert.
The sat phone is often used in military operations and disaster and relief operations.
In the Mumbai terror attack, the sat phones were used only when the men were traveling out in the open sea. The terrorists switched to mobile phones the moment they entered the Taj, Oberoi and Nariman House. The sim cards for these mobile phones were purchased in West Bengal.
Sat phones have proved to be ineffective when used indoors. The caller needs to stand near a window for the call to go through, and there is a considerable delay in communication.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
People bring out grinding stones as mixers go silent
Chennai: The past three days have literally been a walk down memory lane for many Chennaiites. With electricity failure in many parts of the city, television sets and mixergrinders did not work. So, people willy-nilly had to tune in to the radio if they had one, or bring out the grinding stone that they had long ignored.
As Chennai and its suburbs were submerged, water entered electricity junction boxes at many places. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) had no choice but to stop power supply, to prevent electrocution.
“Even during the 2005 floods, power supply was not disconnected. This time, we could not go out to get milk and other essential commodities. Cooking dishes was a problem; I had to grind the masalas,” said Amudheshwari Mahalingam, a resident of Virugambakkam.
Radio suddenly regained some of its old glory. “We had electricity on Thursday morning, but the supply got cut by noon. I did not part with the radio, because I wanted to keep track of the Mumbai hostage drama and the flood situation here. After a long time, I heard songs on Vividh Bharati,” said K S Subramaniam, a West Mambalam resident.
For Meenakshi Seshasayee in Mylapore, the past few days have been both painful and exhilarating. “I got a backache after using the grinding stone to make dosa batter and chutney. I felt like being transported to the days of my grandmother,” she said.
In Kodambakkam’s Azeez Nagar, senior citizens were put to hardship. “The milk got spoilt as the refrigerator did not work. I could not contact anyone because my cell phone could not be charged. And I did not go out due to floods,” said Ramamoorthy.
As Chennai and its suburbs were submerged, water entered electricity junction boxes at many places. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) had no choice but to stop power supply, to prevent electrocution.
“Even during the 2005 floods, power supply was not disconnected. This time, we could not go out to get milk and other essential commodities. Cooking dishes was a problem; I had to grind the masalas,” said Amudheshwari Mahalingam, a resident of Virugambakkam.
Radio suddenly regained some of its old glory. “We had electricity on Thursday morning, but the supply got cut by noon. I did not part with the radio, because I wanted to keep track of the Mumbai hostage drama and the flood situation here. After a long time, I heard songs on Vividh Bharati,” said K S Subramaniam, a West Mambalam resident.
For Meenakshi Seshasayee in Mylapore, the past few days have been both painful and exhilarating. “I got a backache after using the grinding stone to make dosa batter and chutney. I felt like being transported to the days of my grandmother,” she said.
In Kodambakkam’s Azeez Nagar, senior citizens were put to hardship. “The milk got spoilt as the refrigerator did not work. I could not contact anyone because my cell phone could not be charged. And I did not go out due to floods,” said Ramamoorthy.
Koyambedu bus terminus cut off
Chennai: People found it difficult to access the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus on Saturday as a stretch of the 100-Feet Road from Koyambedu to Vadapalani, which is under water, has been blocked for traffic since Friday.
As the waist-deep water is yet to recede, people are using fishing boats to shift out of the area. All buses from southern districts were diverted in Tambaram.
They took the route via Chennai bypass and Maduravoyal instead of Ashok Nagar and Vadapalani to reach Koyambedu.
The route diversion made the trip longer and arduous. “Travelling through Maduravoyal is a difficult task due to heavy traffic and poor road conditions even during normal times. After the rain, things have turned for the worse and it took me three hours to reach Koyambedu from Tambaram,’’ said Kannadasan, a passenger who came from Villupuram on a government bus.
With the entrance to the bus terminus flooded, passengers, particularly the elderly and children, had a tough time boarding buses. Passengers from other districts going to areas like Vadapalani, Guindy, Ashok Nagar and St Thomas Mount remained stranded in Koyambedu because of the route diversion.
According to MTC drivers, buses on the Tambaram-Avadi route were operated only till Vadapalani. Similarly, Avadi-Tambaram buses were were plied only till Koyambedu. However, some buses were operated via Aminjikarai and Kodambakkam. And some Tambaram-bound buses were operated through Maduravoyal instead of Vadapalani.
“When there is a route diversion, passengers must be informed. I did not find any such system here. We cannot hire autorickshaws as drivers demand exorbitant amounts,’’ said Dhanraj, a passenger.
Many drivers of government buses suggested that mofussil buses from southern districts could have been stopped in Tambaram so that passengers could reach their destinations. As buses from other districts were running several hours behind schedule, many services were cancelled and a large number of passengers who had booked tickets in advance cancelled them. Meanwhile, residents and shopkeepers on 100-Feet Road are worried as there was no sign of water receding. With several vehicles remaining stuck on flooded roads, including 100-Feet Road, MTC drivers said they were instructed not to operate new buses as this would damage vehicles.
As the waist-deep water is yet to recede, people are using fishing boats to shift out of the area. All buses from southern districts were diverted in Tambaram.
They took the route via Chennai bypass and Maduravoyal instead of Ashok Nagar and Vadapalani to reach Koyambedu.
The route diversion made the trip longer and arduous. “Travelling through Maduravoyal is a difficult task due to heavy traffic and poor road conditions even during normal times. After the rain, things have turned for the worse and it took me three hours to reach Koyambedu from Tambaram,’’ said Kannadasan, a passenger who came from Villupuram on a government bus.
With the entrance to the bus terminus flooded, passengers, particularly the elderly and children, had a tough time boarding buses. Passengers from other districts going to areas like Vadapalani, Guindy, Ashok Nagar and St Thomas Mount remained stranded in Koyambedu because of the route diversion.
According to MTC drivers, buses on the Tambaram-Avadi route were operated only till Vadapalani. Similarly, Avadi-Tambaram buses were were plied only till Koyambedu. However, some buses were operated via Aminjikarai and Kodambakkam. And some Tambaram-bound buses were operated through Maduravoyal instead of Vadapalani.
“When there is a route diversion, passengers must be informed. I did not find any such system here. We cannot hire autorickshaws as drivers demand exorbitant amounts,’’ said Dhanraj, a passenger.
Many drivers of government buses suggested that mofussil buses from southern districts could have been stopped in Tambaram so that passengers could reach their destinations. As buses from other districts were running several hours behind schedule, many services were cancelled and a large number of passengers who had booked tickets in advance cancelled them. Meanwhile, residents and shopkeepers on 100-Feet Road are worried as there was no sign of water receding. With several vehicles remaining stuck on flooded roads, including 100-Feet Road, MTC drivers said they were instructed not to operate new buses as this would damage vehicles.
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