Survey of mobile phone radio waves condition in rural area for two-way communications in disaster

Abstract

The information required in the disaster will change over time. In early stage the emergency information is required. Then evacuation life information in shelter is required. The next required information changes to reconstruction information subsequently. Two-way communication is necessary between the affected area and support center in those time periods. When information infrastructure is destroyed in affected areas, the communication state of mobile e-mail and Internet access even in crowded conditions of voice communication by mobile phone was relatively stable. Internet is expected as a media to gather information from affected area and should be available in all regions. In Japan there are four main private companies as the major mobile phone carrier and Wi-Fi wireless Internet access. In Japan, connection state of mobile phone is different by region and the mobile carrier companies. Mobile phone signal is hard to get in the areas where are behind buildings in urban areas and behind mountain in a rural areas. From the viewpoint of disaster prevention should be a mobile Internet connection available in all areas. It is also important that we use those tools not only on disaster but on a daily basis.