Caprock Communications launched a satellite communications services program intended for use following natural disasters, the company announced June 15.

The DR-250 communications package contains all the equipment needed to provide telephone and broadband data services if terrestrial options are unavailable in the aftermath of a storm, the company said.

The system includes a trailer-mounted satellite antenna, integrated satellite networking gateway, power supply and telephones. The system provides direct access to the public telephone network and always-on broadband Internet access with speeds up to 256 kilobits per second, Caprock said.

Customers can reserve the system for the duration of the 2005 hurricane season in the United States. If the system is deployed, the customer pays a flat monthly fee for use and the equipment is returned to Caprock when normal communications are restored.