In pictures: AT&T shows off business continuity support with its network trucks

The importance of communications has never been more fundamental. Every day, networks carry vast amounts of data that help businesses function, governments rule and families and friends stay in touch.

When natural disasters or conflicts arise, communication is one of the first utilities that must be restored to help nations get their businesses running and people to let one another know they're safe.

With this in mind, V3.co.uk was invited by AT&T to see some of the equipment it can deploy across the globe at a moment's notice to get networks back online and help governments respond to everything from an earthquake to war.

AT&T also showcased its work with Telecoms Sans Frontièrs, a non-government organisation that brings communications to people in the toughest conditions to help humanitarian workers communicate and loved ones get in touch. Below are some pictures from the event.

AT&T has some 320 'mobile assets' that can be shipped around the world by sea or air to ensure that its network is fully operational and that people in affected regions are back online as quickly as possible with web, voice and data connections.

As major incidents unfold, AT&T cannot be a burden on those in the area, so the company brings its own power supplies in the form of generators that power the equipment and air-conditioning units for its mobile nodes.

The inside of the trucks resembles a traditional point of presence on the AT&T network, run by equipment from the likes of Juniper Networks and Cisco, so networks are up and running quickly and securely. The 2010 earthquake in Chile was a major incident that AT&T attended with its equipment to help restore network services in Santiago.

 
Other vehicles host key services, such as this command-and-control room that contains access to the internet, television services, UHF radios and a place for personnel to plan strategies and share information.

Satellite connections can be one of the first services to get an area back online, and Telecoms Sans Frontièrs use a connection from satellite broadband provider Tooway on the KA-Sat seen by V3.co.uk last year, to offer speeds of up to 4Mbit/s on the ground.

This equipment is often provided free by vendors, with donations made to the Telecoms Sans Frontièrs cause. AT&T is one of several vendors that offers its support in the form of equipment and donations, pledging a further $150,000 at the Twickenham event.

This work means that Telecoms Sans Frontièrs can get on the ground at major incidents such as in Misrata in Libya, helping local civilians connect with loved ones from refugee camps, and NGOs to co-ordinate with each other.