The Dubai Government has expressed its gratitude to Airbus Defence and Space for having provided a life-saving communications technology (the city's TETRA network), in the aftermath of the huge blaze that broke on New Year's Eve at the 63-story The Address Downtown Hotel in Dubai.Â
"We made the right decision in procuring a TETRA-based professional mobile radio system, which worked reliably and independently," wrote Mansoor Juma Buosaiba, deputy chief executive officer of Nedaa Professional Communication Corporation, in a letter to Airbus Defence and Space. Furthermore, the company, a government institution running the TETRA mobile network in Dubai, pointed out that Airbus Defence and Space's technology and contribution "saved many lives".
About 200 fire-fighters and other public safety organisations evacuated all the guests from 800 rooms, among them around 20 people with minor injuries, despite a large number of onlookers gathering in the vicinity of the 302 metre hotel. Â They also succeeded in containing the fire quickly. As they had to make many calls in order to block roads, carry out evacuations and locate people, the Airbus Defence and Space supplied TETRA network was vital in coordinating an effective reponse. Â It works completely independent of commercial networks and every rescuer was equipped with an Airbus Defence and Space device.
The figure of 25,000 people being evacuated was retracted by Airbus Defence and Space as it could not be substantiatedÂ
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