"QDA solutions adhere to prevailing telecom regulations"

The National Disaster Response Force, NDRF has successfully utilised Hughes QDA during earthquake relief operations in India, Nepal, and Turkey.

- Shivaji Chatterjee

QDA, or Quick Deployment Antenna, is an emergency connectivity tool that is reshaping communication maps in critical times and challenging areas where outreach is difficult but crucial. Notably, Hughes has recently intensified its efforts in emergency communication networks through satellite connectivity, particularly in the realm of QDA. This is further bolstered by what it terms a "made-in-India" technology, providing dependable and swiftly deployable communication solutions for rapid field deployment and timely information gathering within 15 minutes. How feasible is it to ensure seamless communication channels even amidst crises when traditional connectivity is lacking? Shivaji Chatterjee, President and Managing Director of Hughes Communications India (HCI), provides insights from the front lines for a closer examination. In an interview with Pratima Harigunani, he elaborates on its ties with Satcom, miniaturisation, and terrestrial networks.

Excerpt: Explain QDA to the uninitiated and what makes it faster to deploy and use.

Quick Deploy Antenna or QDA, as the term suggests, is one of the quickest ways to enable connectivity at any location for both strategic and general communication purposes. QDA solutions typically comprise lightweight hardware, including an antenna and an outdoor VSAT, along with essential accessories. The QDA modem features built-in Wifi and auto-sense mobility, enabling installation by any trained individual in under 20 minutes.

Once installed, QDA ensures seamless and reliable satellite connectivity, capable of achieving multi-Mbps network speeds. HCIS QDA provides dependable and interoperable communication solutions with adaptable ranges suitable for various environments.

Are there any specific challenges in India regarding configuration, spectrum, permissions, latency, mobility, capacity, concurrency of usage, etc.?