Motorola Solutions signs AU$30m deal with NSW Telco Authority for network upgrade

Motorola Solutions has signed a five-year AU$30 million deal with the New South Wales Telco Authority (NSW TA) that will see it upgrade 150 radio sites used by public safety agencies and personnel, as well as expand network coverage to 23 new sites in the state's north-west.

Emergency services and other relevant agencies in NSW will have access to enhanced voice and data communications, extended coverage, interoperability, and greater resilience to support them in their day-to-day activities as well as during peak events and emergencies.

Steve Crutchfield, VP of Motorola Solutions, said the state will receive up-to-date radio technology for the duration of the contract and potentially beyond.

"This includes digital radios that provide a richer set of features including location and mapping data, improved security, extended coverage and new and emerging applications to keep New South Wales agencies at the forefront of innovation," he said.

The upgrade has been described as a "key milestone" within the NSW Operational Communications Strategy and the AU$63 million Critical Communications Enhancement Program, which aim to provide improved technology to frontline personnel as well as improve the quality and efficiency of radio communications across the state.

The 10-year strategy, which was announced in December 2015, will see agencies unify their telco resources under a single integrated model, making the use of existing infrastructure more efficient, reducing duplication, improving reliability, and saving operational and maintenance costs.

In addition to the radio network upgrade, NSW TA has deployed Motorola Solutions' WAVE application within its radio network, allowing first responders to extend the reach and capability of their radio communications to team members carrying mobile devices.

The application essentially turns smartphones and tablets into multi-channel handsets for real-time push-to-talk voice communications anywhere there is a network connection. It also integrates with land mobile radio to provide unified voice and text messaging capabilities.

In April 2015, Motorola Solutions Motorola Solutions Australia inked a AU$175 million seven-year deal with the South Australian government for the upgrade and management of its emergency services wireless network, followed by an AU$11 million 18-month deal a few months later with Western Australian police to upgrade its existing dispatch system and integrate a new mobility application.