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The devastation wrought by a hurricane can be human, psychological, environmental and, of course, material. But when a phenomenon recedes after devastating an inhabited land, one of the priorities is to re-establish the means of communication. Not only to organize rescue operations, but also to enable people to warn their loved ones and reassure them, when necessary. That's why the Collectivité territoriale's innovation and development department, in partnership with the civil security department, has installed some fifteen Wi-Fi Safe terminals across the island. However, this system will only be activated in the event of extreme necessity. That is, in the event of a major crisis.
In Saint-Barthélemy, the Collectivité territoriale has been working for years to bury the water, electricity and telecoms networks, in order to protect the infrastructure from destruction in the event of a major event. These developments have required investments of several million euros, making the island almost unique in the Caribbean. Thanks to these advances, the installation of the Wi-Fi Safe kiosks only cost around one thousand euros per unit.
Application and QR code
To locate these terminals, all you have to do is log on to the Collectivité territoriale's telephone application, or connect via a QR code. The aim is to ensure even coverage of the territory," explains Pascal Peuchot, head of the department in charge of innovation and digital development. The aim of these access points is to avoid unnecessary journeys, but also to prevent people from congregating in front of strategic points such as the Stis barracks or the hospital. This was one of the lessons learned after Irma. "
The Wi-Fi Safe hotspots have been installed in places that allow residents to gather without danger or risk of disruption to the emergency services. "This project may seem simple, especially as terminals had already been present since Irma," says Pascal Peuchot. But they were only present in a piecemeal fashion. Now, they are widespread and identifiable. "In fact, the logo on the terminals makes them easy to find.
For a long time, the oldest kiosks remained "open", but this is no longer the case. "We realized that people were using them for online games or other connections," notes Pascal Peuchot. As a result, the network will only be opened from the kiosks when circumstances require. "It's an open network, but only the connection data is exposed," reassures Fabrice Querrard, territorial councillor in charge of innovation and digital transition.
The kiosks are accessible via the fiber-optic network. Their range extends from twenty to fifty meters. "Some are visible, others hidden", explains Pascal Peuchot. Simply because the latter are located on more exposed sites. Nevertheless, they remain easy to find for potential users. Hopefully, no one will need them, as this would mean that the island has been hit by a powerful cyclone.
