Motorola Solutions wins UK emergency services contract

Motorola Solutions has been chosen as a key supplier to help deliver a cheaper and smarter communications network in the UK that will enable more effective use of their police, fire and ambulance resources.

The Home Office announced that Motorola Solutions signed the ‘Lot 2’ contract for user services, which will see the company provide system integration and critical functionality for the new public safety LTE-based network.

The Emergency Services Network (ESN) is expected to be relied on by more than 300,000 emergency and public service users at over 300 agencies across the UK.

It will support a network based on 4G public safety LTE technology with voice and broadband data services, such as the ability to send photos and video.

Real-life possibilities include transmitting live video from body-worn cameras directly from a crime scene; sharing high-definition images with hospital consultants to enable remote diagnosis and treatment recommendations at accident sites; and sharing in real time 3D maps of buildings at fire scenes.

“As a company trusted with providing emergency and public safety agencies with innovative, reliable and secure critical communications technology, we are honoured to have been selected for this opportunity,” said Manuel Torres, senior vice president of Europe and North Africa sales & support services at Motorola Solutions.

“We share ESN’s commitment and vision to equipping emergency and public service agencies with the functionality and capabilities that a broadband-based network can offer.” 

The new services will replace the existing system from mid-2017 as the current contracts expire.

The announcement comes just days after it was revealed that Motorola Solutions will acquire Airwave, presently the operator of the UK’s emergency services communications network.

Image courtesy of Phil Long under CC