Fire & Rescue NSW integrates PTT

Fire & Rescue New South Wales, Australia’s largest urban fire service and the fourth largest in the world, has integrated PTT technology developed by Cobham SATCOM and its partner Wireless Innovation into its communications network.

By combining satellite and LMR into a single network, the new technology significantly extends the reach of data and voice communication across the 880,000 square kilometres that the service is responsible for.

Cobham SATCOM’s EXPLORER PTT solution combines global L-band satellite technology and least-cost routing for automatic switching between satcom, LTE and LMR without user intervention.

By combining all bearers available, the system significantly extends communications reach for the service, providing voice and data coverage across the state, including in radio blackspots.

The system uses a single handheld microphone, making it user-friendly for firefighters who can just pick up and talk without thinking about which service the conversation is being transmitted on.

Additionally, the least-cost routing ensures costs are kept to a minimum, making it a suitable solution for public funded services.

“While existing coverage in cities and urban areas is fine, providing full, reliable communications across New South Wales’ entire fringe and rural land mass with high-quality voice and data is incredibly challenging,” said Fire & Rescue New South Wales Operational Communications Systems Officer Graham Tait.

“PTT is a vital aspect to our urban search and rescue operations as it ensures we have full coverage even when infrastructure is taken out due to flooding, cyclones or earthquakes, but the system will help us to deliver coverage throughout the state on fire trucks also.

“Ultimately, PTT is acting as a catalyst towards a proposed broadband public safety network.”

The EXPLORER 325 PTT solution for Fire & Rescue New South Wales was developed in conjunction with Wireless Innovation, a Sydney-based company that provides hosted and fully managed PTT solutions to airtime providers and end users with the ability to manage global networks of any scale.

Wireless Innovation provides the front-end management of the EXPLORER PTT solution for Fire & Rescue New South Wales.

“The EXPLORER PTT solution meets a specific need for delivering reliable communications for first responders in large rural areas, especially where LMR coverage is lacking,” said Wireless Innovation Managing Director Neil Jamieson.

“Delivering a fast, organised response in an area the size of New South Wales is incredibly challenging, but based on our experience of integrating PTT on ambulances and police vehicles in Queensland, we have been able to deliver a low-cost solution for Fire & Rescue New South Wales that will improve safety and logistics, allowing the service to address emergencies even more effectively.”

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