By News Staff
CUPERTINO, Calif. — Santa Clara officials announced the purchase of two Mobil Operations Satellite Expeditionary System (MOSES) systems to solve communications issues during a wildfire or natural disaster.
Assemblyman Evan Low (D-San Jose) announced to state and local officials they were able to secure $4 million in state funding to purchase the MOSES systems, according to Fox 2 KTVU.
“We have been able to secure from the state of California, $4 million dollars for technology with respect to the MOSES program,” Low said.
The MOSES system is mounted on the back of a five-foot by eight-foot trailer. The system uses satellite to establish a WiFi connection within a 35-mile radius and takes only 15 minutes for setup.
“This technology will help bridge that gap should we experience an infrastructure failure in our communications, regardless of the event,” Chief Tony Bowden of the Santa Clara County Fire Department said.
Santa Clara is the first county to purchase this technology which, under a mutual aid agreement, will be available to the rest of California in the event of a natural disaster.