ICTP 379: The importance of being additive when it comes to emergency communications, with Fabian Lewis
Release Date: 12/03/2025
ICT Pulse Podcast
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Consistent with the growing discussion of digital sovereignty in the Caribbean region and worldwide, greater attention is being placed on the establishment of data embassies. In response, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) published a study on the subject. We chat with Demetris Herakleous, an Associate Economic Affairs Officer at ECLAC, on the prospect of Caribbean countries establishing a data embassy, including: * the differences between a data embassy and a data centre; * the possibility of a regional data embassy...
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The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a central pillar of the global internet governance ecosystem. In the latter half of 2025, consultations were held with the Latin American and Caribbean region on the strategic plan ICANN hopes to implement in the region for the period 2026 to 2030. Rodrigo de la Parra, ICANN’s Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean and Managing Director of the LAC Regional Office, joins us to discuss, among other things: * ICANN’s strategic plan for Latin America and the Caribbean and some of the considerations...
info_outlineAlthough we are at the end of the 2025 North Atlantic Hurricane Season, we are only six months away from the start of the 2026 hurricane season. Moreover, other hazards or disasters, such as fire, earthquake, or even a utility failure due to a cyberattack, can occur at any time.
Fabian Lewis, a telecommunications, emergency medicine and disaster management specialist from Saint Lucia, joins us to discuss how we as individuals, organisations and countries can improve our telecoms resilience and increase the chances that we will be able to remain connected when we need it most. Among other things, we discuss:
* what makes the Caribbean particularly vulnerable when it comes to telecoms and ICT disruptions during disasters;
* whether amateur radio is still important in a country’s disaster/emergency communication management effort; and
* common mistakes organisations make when preparing (or failing to prepare) their telecoms and ICT systems for disasters.
The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)
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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell
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