World Congress News The 8th TETRA World Congress
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Fire and Rescue services set to become the third major emergency service on the Airwave network Firelink, the UK Government’s procuring body for the new fire service communications contract, has confirmed that O2 Airwave, subject to satisfactory completion of final contract details, has been successful in its bid to equip all Fire and Rescue services throughout England with a new resilient and secure voice and data communications service. The company will work with the Firelink team in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to conclude final contract matters in the near future. The announcement comes prior to contract award, which is expected before the end of the year. A framework is being created for the scheme that provides the devolved administrations for Scotland and Wales with an option to adopt the service. Jeff Parris, Vice President for O2 Airwave said, “Today’s announcement gives us an opportunity to prove that we can provide the nation’s Fire Services with the very best in communications. We look forward to working closely with the Firelink team over the next few weeks.” The UK Fire Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick said, “We are investing heavily in the Fire and Rescue service to ensure that it is able to meet the challenges of the modern world. Firelink will transform the current arrangements and give the service, for the very first time, the same digital radio system across the country – a system that will enable firefighters to communicate not only between Fire and Rescue services but also with emergency services, regardless of location.“
Nationwide TETRA in Hungary by 2007 The EDR Government Commissioner and the consortium of TMobile Hungary and Hungarian Telekom have concluded the contract for the implementation of the Unified Digital Radio Telecommunications System (EDR) in Hungary. The EDR will by implemented by using TETRA technology in the 380-400 MHz frequency band. The TETRA network will be implemented in the Budapest area by April 2006, with handover of the nationwide network by 31 January 2007. The Hungarian EDR system
will be utilised by the National Police, Border Guards, Fire Services, Catastrophe Protection Directorate, National Environmental and Water Management Directorate, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Prime Minister’s Office, National Safety Services, Ministry of Health – National Ambulance Service, and the Hungarian Army. “The purpose of the public safety radio telecommunications system providing extremely high availability is to ensure a pro-
In this issue: Interviews with EADS Secure Networks CEO, Jean-Marc Nasr and ASTRID's Director of External Relations, Daniel Haché; new TETRA PDA from Motorola; Sepura GPS award and some new names with familiar faces.
fessional connection between the various emergency and safety organisations that makes the execution of actions quicker, more effective and safe,” said Mr. Istvan Pesti, EDR Project Government Commissioner. ‘With the contract signing, the preparation work of a decade has been concluded and the implementation of the Unified Digital Radio Telecommunications System has become close to realisation. It was my pleasure to be able to sign the contract on behalf of the Government.”
World Congress News is brought to you by