Vertel and Ondacomms deliver wide-area radio solution

Australia’s largest privately owned telecommunications carrier, Vertel, and wireless communications company Ondacomms have joined forces for a major deal.

The firms have teamed up to provide a sophisticated, wide-area radio solution for waste management firm Grasshopper Environmental.

Grasshopper Environmental needed better quality voice communications that could cope with the large distance its vehicle fleet covers, parts of which are poorly serviced by telecommunications networks. The 40-year-old firm was unable to find an existing two-way radio solution that met its needs.

As part of the deal, the companies formulated a Push-to-Talk over cellular (PoC) solution, tailored to the firm’s operational requirements.

Grasshopper’s vehicle fleet was fitted with Telo M5 in-vehicle mobile devices, with the PoC application installed. A dispatcher uses the mobile phone application to communicate with the fleet.

Features such as individual and group call capabilities; portable, handheld devices for each vehicle; and secure device management using MDM have made the upgrade an operational success. As has a phone application for non-vehicle staff, allowing them to remotely track fleet trucks and communicate with drivers, without being confined to their desk.

Further, the application has scalability, enabling the firm to incorporate further features onto the devices.

Ryan Noble, asset and driver manager at Grasshopper Environmental, said, “Grasshopper Environmental offers timely support and services to customers, so it’s essential to keep in touch with the fleet at all times regardless of whether a driver is within range of mobile service.

“Using the PoC service provided by Ondacomms and Vertel, communication is now clearer between staff members. Dispatchers can quickly and easily advise job specifications, updates and changes, and can reach all drivers regardless of their location.

“Likewise, drivers can contact dispatch instantly to ask questions or provide updates. The PoC service provides Grasshopper Environmental with efficient and effective communication to meet customer and staff needs.”

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