NSW releases 10-year communications plan

The NSW Government has released a 10-year plan that aims to enhance agency frontline telecommunications capabilities in NSW.

The NSW Government Operational Communications Strategy was officially launched today by NSW Minister for Finance, Services and Property Dominic Perrottet.

Developed by the NSW Telco Authority in consultation with relevant agencies, the strategy is intended to streamline operational communications resources and harness innovative technology, enabling agencies, including emergency services, to deliver better services.

“Communications are an essential part of critical frontline services,” Perrottet said.

“In everything we do, the NSW Government is committed to making better use of existing resources, and taking advantage of the best technology available, to deliver the high levels of service the people of NSW expect,” he said.

“This strategy establishes a clear roadmap to ensure the communications networks that service our critical frontline agencies are highly effective and ready for the future.”

Historically, more than 70 NSW agencies have separately built, owned and operated their own dedicated communications networks.

In a statement, the minister said that under the strategy “agency operational communications resources will move to an integrated model, delivering a common platform that reduces duplication and improves utilisation of existing infrastructure”.

The strategy aims to improve the communications reach of frontline agencies, while at the same time delivering a significant reduction in maintenance costs.

It is also intended to establish “a pathway to incorporating the latest mission-critical communications technology for voice, video and data transmission”.

Significantly, the statement said, “Further efficiencies are expected by making better use of private sector service providers, with a streamlined, coordinated approach to market engagement to be adopted across agencies in meeting their operational communications needs.”

The authority is working with government agencies to develop a range of implementation options, to be considered by government in the first quarter of 2016.

The strategy can be viewed on the NSW Telco Authority’s website.

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