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Motorola Solutions has been awarded a five-year contract extension by the NSW Telco Authority to protect and enhance 24/7 cyber security for NSW emergency services.
To keep first responders across NSW connected at all times, the AU$60 million (US$41.9 million) contract is set to include estimates for future costs in order to provide secure and reliable voice and data communication, enhancing the NSW Public Safety Network (PSN).
According to Con Balaskas, Motorola Solutions' managing director for Australia and New Zealand, investing, upgrading and supporting one of the world's largest mission-critical networks is key.
"PSN provides New South Wales' agencies with exceptional performance in the harshest environments, enabling coordinated responses to critical incidents and supporting their mission to protect people and places," Balaskas said.
The PSN is one of the largest of its kind in the world, spanning 324,000 square kilometres and used by over 50,000 people from emergency and essential services, government agencies and councils. Motorola will help to keep this mission-critical technology up-to-date, secure and performing reliably in any situation, and also provide software upgrades to advance location, vehicle and personnel protection capabilities.
The NSW Telco Authority describes the PSN as the most important critical communications network in NSW next to Australia's triple zero emergency hotline.
It has provided the state's agencies with vital communications in the face of many major emergencies, supporting rescue and emergency efforts during the recent devastating floods, the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 and other natural disasters.
The PSN network provides instant, team-based communication for more than 50 public safety agencies and over 50,000 radio users across emergency services, essential services, government agencies and local councils.
Software upgrades will provide further advancements to the network’s location, vehicle and personnel protection capabilities. The upgrades will also provide NSW Telco Authority with the flexibility to implement next-generation technologies over time. This includes software to extend the reach of interoperable land mobile radio (LMR) communications to more users via cellular networks as well as the introduction of converged communication devices.
The NSW Telco Authority is among many Australian states and territories that continue to invest in mission-critical voice communications systems based on the P25 LMR standard.
[Related: National security laws activated to bolster Aussie critical infrastructure protection]
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