Voice console tech delivered for NZ's new LMR network

A major new emergency communications centre technology, enabled by crown company SafetyNet Critical Communications, has received industry recognition, with technology partner Zetron named a finalist at the ARCIA Excellence Awards for its delivery of a voice console solution for New Zealand’s emergency services.

Zetron — a global supplier of end-to-end command and control technologies — was contracted by Tait Communications to supply voice consoles to be integrated into the communications systems of the agencies who will use New Zealand’s new Public Safety Network (PSN) Land Mobile Radio (LMR) network. The LMR network is based on Project 25 (P25) standards technology that will provide emergency services with the modern, resilient, secure radio technology they need to strengthen their critical communications, and will see all four emergency services using the same radio technology and infrastructure for the first time.

Zetron’s voice console is an emergency communications centre technology enabling dispatchers to access their radio network to communicate with frontline responders, and to deploy people and resources efficiently and safely. It connects to each agency’s existing radio infrastructure and will bridge to the PSN’s LMR network, meaning agencies can adopt the new console now and keep operating without interruption once their LMR network migration begins starting next year.

The voice console also enables a suite of safety features that are being built into the LMR network and delivered to the agencies by SafetyNet. These features include alarm buttons for responders needing urgent help and live information about the location of responders and vehicles. Also enabled by the new console are dedicated talk groups for multi-agency responses, meaning crews from different services can coordinate directly and immediately during major incidents like large weather disasters.

SafetyNet’s Head of Product, Design and Innovation, Steve Lawrence, said that Zetron was a genuine partner throughout the project. Indeed, while the voice consoles will be deployed in support of voice communications across the P25 network, Zetron’s solutions are also fully compatible and ready for broader SafetyNet communications initiatives, including broadband PTT (push-to-talk) over cellular and 3GPP standards-based MCX (mission-critical communications) for voice, video and other data.

“They were proactive from the outset, consistently went beyond what was asked of them and worked openly with us and the agencies at every stage,” Lawrence said. “They gave value throughout the project in ways we hadn’t anticipated, largely due to the effort and time they put into understanding SafetyNet and our emergency services customers’ operational needs.”

With implementation of the technology having concluded in the first half of 2026, New Zealand Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand have both migrated to the new solution. Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance are set to follow early next year.

Image credit: NZ Police.