CASE STUDY ON
Nationwide Early Warning System (NEWS) Project
Utilizing Japan’s Grant Aid in the South PacificRegion.

November 2023

Communication Department
MEIDECCTONGA1PURPOSE OF THIS SESSION-Tonga has introduced the Nationwide Early Warning System (NEWS)
under grant of Japanese Government in 2022. The System is being
maintained in good condition and operated properly after one year
since hand over.
-We would like to introduce on outlines and process of our project asa successful case of the Nationwide Early Warning System in thisregion for your reference.

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Background of the Project
1. According to the World most vulnerable nations list in the Report ofWorld Risk Report 2016 established by United Nations University, Tonga is
the Second Risky Country in the world.
2. The 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami occurred 29th September
2009, and large tsunami hit Niuatoputapu Island, 9 peoples were died.
Based on the this sad issue, we started concerning about capacity
improvement of the country against natural hazards such as tsunami
utilizing radio spectrum/ICT.
→ We applied APT-J2 (current CI) collaborative study with Japanese teamin 2012 to find out the most appropriate solutions for Tongan
situation.
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Project Summary
Name of the Project:“The Project for Introduction of Nationwide Early Warning System and Strengthening
Disaster Communications”

Purpose of the Project:⚫ Contribution to the alleviation of damage caused by natural disasters by making
improvements in the facilities/equipment for disaster warning information.
⚫ Speed up of information transmission to the general public and expand thetransmission range.

Funding scheme:

Grant aid by the Government of Japan

Grant amount:

JPY 3,294 million (≑ US$23 million at JPY145/1US$)

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Histroy (Process we Traced)

2012APT-J2 (CⅠ) Collaborative Research

2013

APT-J3 (CⅡ) Pilot System Project

2015-2016

Proposals for Japanese Grant Aid2016

Selected as Japanese Grant Aid Project

2017-2018

JICA Preliminary Survey (Outline Design)

2018-2019

E/N, G/A, Bidding Process

2019-2022

Implementation (Delayed for 2 years due to Covid19)5

Problem found and Solutions Recommendedin J2(C1)

ProblemsSolutions

Project Component in NEWS

Poor communication among
Disaster Related Organizations

Emergency Radio Communication
system with Repeaters

Component-1

Lack of Early Warning routes forthe peoples in Tsunami high riskareas

Early Warning Sound Alert SystemComponent-2

Low reliability and low quality ofTonga Broadcasting Commission(TBC)’s Medium Wave Radio
broadcasting service as the mostimportant early warning routes
especially in outer islands- Rebuilding of TBC's main studiobuilding and transmitter hut.
- Introduce latest equipment
including MW antenna mast.
- Introduce ‘FM-Retransmission
Stations’ in far remote islands
for better reception.

Component-36

Three Project Components
3 VHF Repeaters
72 VHF Transceivers

75 Outdoor Sirens
514 Indoor Sirens

Renew of TBC buildingand MW systems
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Outlines of VHF Emergency Radio
System (Component – 1)

Wide Coverage- 3 Digital Repeaters on 40m high tower- Inter-Island communication available by IP-Link
IP Link for Inter-Island communication

Number of radio terminals
100km- Base : 15-Vehicle: 19-Handheld: 38

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Outlines of VHF Emergency Radio
System (Component – 1)
Base Station

Handheld Transceiver

HF-SSB Transceiver9Outlines of Outline of Outdoor Siren
System (Component – 2)
- Controlled by MET office 24/7 duty
- Using VHF (60MHz) for Tongatapu/Eua, MW EWBS Radio for outerislands- Number of outdoor sirens: 75 locations for tsunami risky areas.
- Type of siren : Audio Speaker (Long range type. Flat wave, Highpower)- Sound coverage of each siren: Approx. 500-800m radius- Local PA equipped for town officer.

’Eua

Vava’uTongatapu

Ha’apaiNiuatoputapu
10Outlines of Outline of Outdoor Siren
System (Component – 2)

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Outlines of Outdoor Siren System(Component – 2)

12Outlines of Outdoor Siren System(Component – 2)

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Outlines of Indoor Siren System(Component – 2)

RAR is “In door siren device” which remotely activatable from MET office using EarlyWarning Broadcasting Signal (EWBS) through AM and/or FM Radio Broadcasting program✔ Double tuners (one for stand-by mode for EWBS,
one for user which can be used in normal time)✔ 15 kinds of emergency messages and 5 kinds ofsiren/chime sounds are pre-recorded inside andselectable from MET office when activate✔ Rechargeable back-up battery inside for power
failure✔ Multiple power source (AC240V, DC12V, USB5V)✔ External antenna for both AM and FM are included
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Outlines of Indoor Siren RAR(Component – 2)15

Outlines of FM Retransmission
System (Component – 3)600km

FM Retransmission System for Remote Islands toexpand MW coverage (over 600km distance)- Receive very weak MW signal from main station byhigh performance Receiver system, and thentransmit the detected program in FM within theIslands in low power- Independent solar power supply

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Completion Photos (TBC Building and MW Mast)

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Completion Photos (Emergency Radio)

18Completion Photos (Outdoor Sirens)

19Completion Photos (FM Retransmission Station)20

Lessons Learnt

1．Scheduled Test Operation is essential for the MET staff
to familiarize with siren activation without any hesitation.
-Monthly siren test (Last Friday of the month. At Noon)
Test is necessary for the peoples awareness2．Scheduled/Steady Maintenance is essential to keep
the system always be ready.
-Site inspection (once a 6 months)
Secure budget
Establish maintenance team21

Movie of Siren test

Movie of RAR test

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Real Story in Emergency Situation
NEWS was commissioned on 27th September 2022.
Right after the commission,
In the rainy midnight on 11th November 2022 at 11:46 pm

Large earthquake of M7.3 hit Tonga,
and PTWC in Hawaii warnedTsunami risk in Tonga
Duty officer at MET office activated all sirens properly
All sirens and RAR activated and advised people to evacuate
Peoples evacuated to safe place successfully
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Interesting??? Let’s talk more!!!

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MALO ‘AUPITOAndTHANK YOU
Contact point in MEIDECC
Email: ftuihalamaka@mic.gov.to
Contact point in JTEC
Email: tamura@jtec.or.jp

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