Friday fragments - critical comms snippets for 29 May 2015

A round-up of the week’s critical communications and public safety radio news for Friday, 29 May 2015.

Canberra to upgrade emergency comms. ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Joy Burch has announced that almost $15 million will be allocated to upgrade the Territory Radio Network (TRN) repeater tower infrastructure as well as radio and terminal equipment.

TCCA’s new chairperson. The TCCA has announced that Mladen Vratonjic will be the new chair of the association. Mladen takes over from Phil Godfrey, who is retiring as chair after a combined 14 years’ service.

Motorola at Chinese nuclear plant. Motorola Solutions says that, after a series of rigorous anti-seismic tests, its TETRA digital radio trunking system has won the digital communications project bid from Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in Lianyungang, marking the first time this type of TETRA system will be used in China’s nuclear power industry.

Germany begins 700 MHz auction. Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica Deutschland and Vodafone have lined up to take part in Germany’s auction of the 700 MHz band being vacated by regional television stations. The country’s Transport and Digital Infrastructure Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, said the minimum bid has to be 600 euros.

Thales and HP joint venture. Thales has signed an agreement with HP to “collaborate on next-generation critical communication systems to support emergency services”. The companies will “combine their expertise to offer secure, integrated voice and data services based on LTE technology”.