EOC Communication Technology

Uses, Strengths and Weaknesses

Cellular Phones - Can transfer audio, video and data
Strengths Weaknesses
• Smartphones can be used as an internet • Some phones can be expensive
access device • Dependent on availability of internet access
• Can be used to send SMS • Dependent on telecommunication
• Most commonly used and accepted companies’ cellular tower locations

SMS - Can transfer text messages

Strengths Weaknesses
• Most common communication method used • Dependent on cellular signal
by the public • Message arrival at the recipient could be
• One message can be sent to many recipients delayed

Landlines - Can transfer audio

Strengths Weaknesses
• Cheapest of all communication means • Users must wait for others to stop before
• Used within a small area of operations talking
• Shorter range
• Must adhere to regulatory agency protocols

Internet - Can transfer audio, video and data

Strengths
• Access to broad or unlimited information
• Access to information and applications such
as data, maps, video streaming, media, and
social media
Weaknesses
• Dependent on internet service provider
• Dependent on electricity
• Dependent on the devices being used in
accessing the internet

Email - Can transfer audio, video and data

Strengths Weaknesses
• Can be used to send detailed information • Could take time before the actual reading of
such as reports, letters, memoranda and the message
other attachments • Dependent on internet access
• One communication message can be sent to • Some email service provider has limited
many recipients attachment size

Audio/Video Conferencing - Can transfer audio and video

Strengths Weaknesses
• Can communicate simultaneously with • Dependent on internet access and bandwidth
several EOCs • Dependent on the devices used to run the
• One message can be sent to many recipients video conference software

Radio Transceivers - Can transfer audio

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 EOC Communication Technology
Uses, Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths Weaknesses
• Cheapest of all communication means • Users must wait for others to stop before
• Used within a small area of operations they can talk
• Shorter range
• Need to adhere to protocols of Regulatory
Agencies

Satellite Phones - Can transfer audio

Strengths Weaknesses
• Can be used in areas without power, cellular • Very expensive
coverage, or internet access • Signal strength is dependent on weather
conditions
• Requires user training

BGAN - Can transfer audio and data

Strengths Weaknesses
• Can be used in areas without power, cellular • Most expensive among the communication
coverage, or internet access technologies listed
• Can transmit data such as reports, letters, • Line of sight in the satellite is required
memoranda and other documents
• One message can be send to many
recipients

(CBS) Cellular Broadcast System - Can transfer text messages

Used by telecommunications company to broadcast emergency messages through broadcast towers
(as required by Republic Act 10639)

Strengths Weaknesses

• Uses different channel from sms and • Device dependent; other phones does
call, so alert messages will be delivered not support this feature,
instantly. • The message is limited to only 90
• Can be broadcasted to a specific area characters (Philippines)
• Also uses the phone hardware (when an
alert message is sent, the phone that •
receives the alert message will
automatically ring and the message will
pop out in the phone’s screen)