Telenor Satellite Services and Global Relief Technologies (GRT) Sept. 6 announced the two companies have joined forces to provide rapid data management collection capabilities and mobile satellite communications to elements of the 2^nd U.S. Marine Expeditionary Force and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which currently are assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina. The equipment and satellite communications service provides the Marines and FEMA with the ability to immediately collect and transmit critical data with exact GPS coordinates using ruggedized PDAs and laptop-sized satellite terminals to the GRT virtual network operations center. The reports are then immediately forwarded to rescue and response command operations centers.

Globalstar announced Sept. 6 it has deployed more than 10,000 handheld satellite phones to customers in the Gulf region, primarily to government agencies and relief workers, within the first week following the Aug. 29 landfall of Hurricane Katrina. Globalstar said it increased the capacity of its satellite network to ensure continued communications service to the region.