Tasmania taps Telstra for new GRN

The Tasmanian Government has begun negotiations with Telstra over the building of a new Tasmanian Government Radio Network (TasGRN), which will modernise the state’s emergency services and government agency communications.

The TasGRN will replace five existing, separate radio networks to create one unified, digital and interoperable Government Radio Network.

The network will initially be used by eight organisations: Tasmania Police; Tasmania Fire Service; Ambulance Tasmania; State Emergency Service; Sustainable Timber Tasmania; Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment; TasNetworks; and Hydro Tasmania.

“Recent events, both here and in other Australian jurisdictions, have shown us how important it is to have fast and secure communications to respond to bushfires, floods, natural disasters and other emergencies,” said Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Mark Shelton.

“The new TasGRN will give our emergency services and key government agencies an integrated radio network that is purpose-built for the needs of Tasmania. This delivers on past review recommendations, including the 2013 Tasmanian Bushfires Inquiry into the Dunalley bushfires.

“The TasGRN project is expected to create up to 50 jobs during the three-year construction phase, with additional positions to help run and oversee the network once the network is up and running,” the Minister added.

Telstra Enterprise Group Executive Michael Ebeid said the TasGRN would be the largest single project Telstra had ever carried out in Tasmania.

“This will be a brand new government public-safety-grade radio network that will be fit for purpose, meeting the demands of a modern Tasmania and the more than 10,000 employees and volunteers who’ll use it,” Ebeid said.

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