Comms Connect plenary to cover iAward-winning TasGRN

On day one of Comms Connect Melbourne, a plenary conference session helmed by Luke Marchant from Telstra Enterprise will talk through the company’s journey with the Tasmanian Government Radio Network (TasGRN), which was recently named a winner at the 2024 National iAwards hosted by the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA).

The TasGRN was recognised as the winner of the Technology Platform Solution category for successfully providing enhanced digital communication and vastly improved radio network coverage for Tasmania’s public safety and essential services personnel throughout the state, with the assistance of project partners Telstra and Motorola Solutions. The statewide, mission-critical communications network is built on a feature-rich technology platform to provide a variety of capabilities for today and the future, including broadband push-to-talk services enabling seamless communication between radios, smartphones and other devices.

“TasGRN enables Tasmania’s emergency services to manage increasingly complex operational requirements — from combating natural disasters, to dealing with the evolving security landscape and beyond,” said Con Balaskas, Vice President Motorola Solutions Australia and New Zealand.

“In addition to instant and interoperable communications across multiple government organisations, the network’s managed services help keep all of TasGRN’s critical technology, infrastructure, features and security up to date.”

As a proud partner on the TasGRN, Telstra’s plenary session will outline its journey with the network from contract signature to delivery — including the major challenges faced and the outcomes achieved for users, including increased coverage and functionality. The session will also explore the continued evolution of the South East Queensland-based Government Wireless Network (GWN), which features Telstra as a project partner, and the opening of the company’s new Public Safety Experience Centre on the Gold Coast.

In addition to Marchant, the session will include Tim Rutherford from the Tasmanian Department of Police, Fire & Emergency Management and Craig Stolte from the Queensland Fire Department. Other local public safety organisations set to be represented at the conference include the Queensland Police Service, Fire & Rescue NSW and Surf Life Saving NSW.

The full Comms Connect conference program is available now on the event website. Early-bird registration closes on 13 September.