Radio problems could lead to death; US$6.5m on unused towers; Emergency radios stashed; Firies and residents clash over tower; Marconi's towers turn 100.

The winners of the ARCIA Industry Excellence Awards were announced at the organisation's annual gala dinner in Melbourne last night. [ + ]

Queensland Rail has selected Tait Communications for the digital migration of its radio communications network. [ + ]

A man in Melbourne has been fined $3500 and ordered to pay costs after pleading guilty to three offences of deliberately disrupting a taxi company's radio communications system. [ + ]

Sepura has won a second contract to supply TETRA hand-portable radios to the Metropolitan Police Agency of Incheon (IMPA) in South Korea. [ + ]

Tait's new CEO; 'Creaky' spectrum process a problem; Optus 10 almost in place; Telstra ditches LTE-A 900, 1800 MHz; FirstNet releases RFI; 1500 MHz available in India.

Tasmania's emergency services will soon be able to communicate directly with each other, when required, using their mobile radio networks, thanks to investment by the state government. [ + ]

Detroit's emergency services communications systems are so old and decrepit that front-line workers have taken to using bizarre workarounds to ensure dispatch messages are received. [ + ]

The ARCIA Gala Industry Dinner and Industry Excellence Awards ceremony will take place on 1 October, and it's not too late to book your ticket. [ + ]

Comms Connect Melbourne 2014 is only days away and it's not too late to take part, with free entry to the exhibition and keynote addresses if you preregister. [ + ]

The largest engineering event ever held in the Southern Hemisphere will see around 5000 delegates gather in Melbourne in later this year. [ + ]

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp has been selected by Laser Light Communications to be its prime contractor for the first global, all-optical commercial satellite system. [ + ]

Satellite comms provider Inmarsat has showcased remote healthcare and telemedicine communications technologies at the Digital Healthcare Week 2014 exhibition. [ + ]

Tait Communications has strengthened its presence and growth prospects in Latin America through the acquisition of long-term partner SGM Telecomunicações. [ + ]

Comms Connect - only two weeks to go; Airbus selling comms division; UK hams want to encrypt; Telstra's LTE plans; Greek spectrum auction proves popular.