NSW to get eight extra COWs for emergency comms

The NSW Government will deliver eight new Cell on Wheels (COW) units to provide temporary network coverage and boost emergency communications capabilities for the state’s Public Safety Network (PSN), should any fixed infrastructure become damaged this summer.

“This temporary communications infrastructure will ensure continuity of coverage over a radius of approximately 15 km, which is vital to ensuring the PSN remains operational for frontline responders,” said Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello.

“We plan on delivering another 14 COWs in 2021, and this increased fleet will ensure our first responders can continue to use the PSN when they need it most.”

“This announcement is a further step to getting our emergency services ready for a La Niña event and the possibility of grass and bushfires, and will complement record budgets across the agencies,” added Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott.

Commissioner of Resilience NSW Shane Fitzsimmons said that COWs were deployed on 36 occasions across eight NSW regions where network infrastructure had been lost or damaged during the last bushfire season.

“COWs can be deployed across the state to deliver backup telecommunications and are particularly useful when disasters occur in isolated communities. The additional COWs announced today are a welcome addition,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.

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