Motorola wins $261m Victorian contract extension

Motorola Solutions has been awarded a $261 million contract extension to upgrade the Metropolitan Mobile Radio (MMR) network for Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

The extant managed service contract has been extended for seven years with an opportunity to extend for a further five years.

Included will be a trial of an interface to Triple Zero emergency call and dispatch systems, ensuring public safety agencies have access to more services and data-based capabilities over time.

The deal with Partnerships Victoria is the highest value per annum Motorola has signed in Australia — and one of its largest worldwide — and will extend the company’s delivery of mission-critical voice communications to Victoria beyond 20 years.

As well as upgrading the MMR network, the company will provide enhanced data services and incremental safety features including GPS and location services, enabling agencies to better manage their vehicles and personnel.

The service will also provide customised online reporting, giving agencies valuable information about their radio network usage.

Motorola Solutions will also deliver new innovation to the service, including a trial of its software-defined push-to-talk solution to extend radio network access to more users via broadband.

The MMR network commenced operation in 2005, providing mission-critical, digitally encrypted voice communication for emergency services throughout greater metropolitan Melbourne.

Since then the network has consistently met and exceeded service levels, including stringent availability targets to provide Victorian public safety agencies with a highly secure and reliable service.

Victorian first responders made more than 40 million push-to-talk voice calls across the network in 2017.

The network enables the three agencies to communicate seamlessly with one another for enhanced emergency response and 24/7 support from Motorola Solutions’ Melbourne-based control centre.

Later in 2018, Victoria State Emergency Service, Corrections Victoria and Life Saving Victoria will also join the network.

“For the past 13 years the MMR network has provided essential communications for Victoria’s first responders when they have needed it most. This includes uninterrupted coverage during Victoria’s tragic Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 and reliable performance during many other major emergencies,” said Motorola Solutions Vice President and Managing Director Steve Crutchfield.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/ChiccoDodiFC

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