New radio network for first responders

28 August saw the launch of a new national radio network that will provide emergency responders with the modern, resilient, secure radio communications technology they need.

A pilot area in South Canterbury consisting of eight digital radio transmission sites is the first component of the Public Safety Network Land Mobile Radio (LMR) network. Emergency services will use this area to test new radios using operational scenarios, which will inform an eleven-region roll-out of the LMR network to emergency services across the country through to 2026.

“The jobs of our first responders - Ambulance Officers, Fire Fighters, and Police Officers are not easy. They go willingly into situations and places that most New Zealanders do not have to go. They put a lot at risk to keep New Zealanders safe,” said Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell.

“Reliable, secure-modern communications are vital to frontline responders. The new Land Mobile Radio network will help coordinate these services, for the safety, wellbeing and prosperity of all New Zealanders.”

The network will be fully encrypted, meaning only emergency services personnel can access transmissions.

“Eliminating outside disruption will be a game-changer for our emergency services, ensuring greater safety of frontline staff and for the security of the information they are sharing,” said Mr Mitchell.

Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden says the new network will bring benefits for safety, operational efficiency and productivity for fire and emergency personnel as they respond to members of the community in need.

“For the first time in New Zealand’s history, the four emergency services agencies will share the same radio network,” she said. “This will enable greater interoperability between the organisations, bring improved efficiencies and safety for frontline staff – and ultimately, benefit the communities they serve.”

The Public Safety Network is a significant infrastructure project involving the investment of $1.4 billion over 10 years to build and operate the networks and roll out new devices to emergency services staff, stations, and vehicles.

The LMR network is one part of the Public Safety Network being delivered by Next Generation Critical Communications on behalf of Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Wellington Free Ambulance, and Hato Hone St John.

The LMR will sit alongside the second component of the Public Safety Network, Cellular Services. Cellular Roaming (live since July 2023) now has 14,000 emergency services users who can roam across Spark and One NZ networks, and Cellular Priority will be live in late 2024.

The third element of the Public Safety Network involves the modernisation of ‘personal alerting’ technology. This is available to Fire and Emergency NZ and Hato Hone St John, including for use to mobilise their volunteer workforce.

Delivery of the LMR will start in Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland in 2025, followed by the project’s remaining eight regions throughout 2025 and 2026.