Best of 2020: Whatever happened to the National Strategic Radio System?
04 January, 2021 by Ben CosierGovernments have known about interoperability problems for decades. It is time for something to be done about it, says Ben Cosier.
Best of 2020: No room for communications complacency in the 'new normal'
30 December, 2020 by Ian Miller*Australia's public safety communications need to be treated as a single ecosystem, with full spectrum allocations and proper funding.
WA announces plans for new emergency radio network
14 December, 2020The project will replace more than 11,000 radio devices during its first phase, with the ultimate goal of building a new statewide communications system.
Public Safety Mobile Broadband to be expedited
14 December, 2020 by Jonathan NallyAustralia's governments seem to have finally gotten the message regarding rolling out a national Public Safety Mobile Broadband capability.
BAI awarded contract to operate NSW's PSN
08 December, 2020The NSW Telco Authority has awarded BAI Communications a five-year contract to manage the state's Public Safety Network, including the Network Operations Control Centre.
Telcos, energy networks addressing power outages
06 November, 2020Energy Networks Australia and Communications Alliance have signed an MOU to improve collaboration and knowledge-sharing to better respond to emergency situations.
First findings from Virve 2.0 devices RFI to be announced
03 November, 2020Initial findings from Finland's Virve 2.0 mobile devices RFI will be presented in an online session on Thursday, 5 November as part of Critical Communications Week.
$10m for rapidly deployable emergency comms
29 October, 2020COWs, SatCOWs, NBN Road Muster trucks and portable satellite kits will be acquired and pre-positioned ahead of the 2020–21 bushfire season.
Telecommunications essential to keeping Australians connected
14 October, 2020 by John StantonThe development of the Telecommunications Emergency Communications Protocol provides a common operating model for communications disaster management.
Security for mobile and wearable devices
08 October, 2020 by Jonathan NallyPotential security vulnerabilities inherent in smart devices being used by first responders are reviewed in a new NIST report.
Upgrade for Vanuatu's emergency radio network
06 October, 2020Vanuatu's national government will get an upgraded emergency radio network under a joint project with Australia.
P25 Steering Committee, CISA release P25 resource
28 September, 2020The Statement of Project 25 User Needs aims to help users better understand P25 technologies and identify their communications needs.
Finland strides ahead with its Virve 2.0 devices RFI
28 September, 2020 by Jonathan NallyErillisverkot has issued an RFI for end-user devices that could be used by Finland's forthcoming public safety mobile broadband network, Virve 2.0.
New Zealand appoints next-gen emergency comms board
02 September, 2020The former CEO of Air New Zealand, Rob Fyfe, has been appointed chair of the Next Generation Critical Communications Executive Governance Board.
Public safety research reports released
28 August, 2020The US National Public Safety Telecommunications Council has released several reports covering MCPTT and the use of emerging technologies.
