NSW GRN — a progress report

We check in with the NSW Telco Authority to get an update on recent achievements and plans for the next 12 months.

The New South Wales Government Radio Network is one of the largest in the world, and it’s still only partially complete as the responsible agency, the NSW Telco Authority, works to consolidate decades’ worth of development of individual networks into one, sustainable whole.

To get an update on the status of the GRN, and what to expect in the near future, we submitted a number of questions to the Telco Authority.

CC: What sort of progress is being made on rationalising the use of spectrum for government purposes in NSW?

TA: When the ACMA reviewed the 400 MHz band and introduced dedicated spectrum for government use, it provided the Telco Authority with an opportunity to look at the way spectrum is used by NSW government agencies, and determine if any efficiencies could be gained.

We have since implemented a number of strategies to rationalise the use of spectrum by government agencies. In effect, we have centralised spectrum management of NSW Government licences into the Telco Authority, ensuring that licences used by agencies are authorised and monitored. This has enabled efficient demand management of this scarce resource and ensures that spectrum is only used to support an identified and assessed need. We are finding real value in managing spectrum for government use in a centralised way and it will continue to be implemented across the government’s spectrum holdings.

CC: What input did the Telco Authority make to the Productivity Commission’s recent study?

TA: The Telco Authority prepared a response to the Productivity Commission highlighting a number of issues that should be considered in its study. A copy of our submission can be viewed on the Productivity Commission’s website: www.pc.gov.au.

CC: Can you detail what headway you are making on tackling the ‘spectrum squeeze’ in the Sydney basin?

TA: The centralisation of spectrum management is showing improvements in resource management, with efficiencies being delivered across government as we continue to work with all stakeholders to deliver further improvements.

Efficiencies are being driven by a number of agencies migrating on to the Government Radio Network rather than refreshing their existing conventional networks over the last few years, as well as better planning and use of spectrum for other agencies.

CC: A couple of years ago there were 50,000 end users across the state, with 30,000 on the GRN. Have those numbers changed significantly?

TA: The number of end-user devices on the GRN has increased slightly to just over 31,000 handsets. Over the last couple years the Telco Authority has been working with agencies to enhance the existing voice capabilities that we provide via the shared network. This work will continue to explore with stakeholders solutions to improve communication between agency staff and front-line GRN users.

CC: Still on that topic, what’s the status of bringing the NSW Police onto the GRN?

TA: Certain teams within the NSW Police have been using the GRN for a number of years. The Telco Authority will continue to work with NSW Police on this and many other matters to do with their communications needs.

CC: What progress is being made on rationalising infrastructure, eg, having separate towers on the same site for different users?

TA: Over the past two years a number of significant projects have been completed in partnership with agencies, which consider the benefits, costs and service improvements from infrastructure rationalisation. This has included expanding the footprint of the GRN at key locations. Over the last year, three new sites have been commissioned, with a further eight to be delivered early in the new year.

The Telco Authority is continuing to work closely with agencies on future planning for the sector, including opportunities for shared services and infrastructure.

CC: Some in the industry are critical of government agencies having to pay ‘over the top’ fees to house comms equipment on Crown land. Is this a fair criticism?

TA: As part of adopting of the IPART recommendations for rental levels on Crown lands, the NSW Government agreed that the Telco Authority be consulted as changes are implemented. We will continue to work with Crown Lands as new arrangements are implemented.

CC: In our conversation two years ago, Shaun Smith mentioned that there needed to be improvements in areas such as active network monitoring. Has there been any progress with this?

TA: Initiatives to improve network monitoring have included remote terminal units deployed at each GRN site that can actively monitor site environmental factors such as main power, battery, physical security and air conditioners. Also, the deployment of a suite of operational support tools which enable fault and performance data from multiple systems to be viewed by a variety of stakeholders in real time.

In the future, these tools may also be used to simplify operational processes associated with managing multiple technologies such as MPLS and microwave linking.

CC: Can you give some details of the pilot infrastructure rationalisation program?

TA: To date, we have received funding for the current financial year for planning infrastructure rationalisation and to carry out a pilot project in the north-west NSW. The pilot will inform our detailed implementation planning for future rationalisation work by allowing us to validate assumptions, technical feasibility and delivery approaches.

CC: What are the most important points of the new Corporate Plan?

TA: At the forefront of whatever we do needs to be our stakeholders — the users and providers of our services. Because of this we really push hard to ensure that vision and direction for the sector is done in partnership with agencies and industry, especially as we move towards creating a more fit-for-purpose shared radio network.

To support this, and the wider NSW Government priorities as set out in NSW Making it Happen, our 2015/16 Corporate Plan has four objectives: improve services to meet stakeholder needs; lead spectrum management across NSW; deliver more cost-effective access to radio services; and strengthen sector-wide capabilities.

CC: Can you outline the progress you hope to achieve over the next 12 months?

TA: Our broader work program is to meet our corporate goals and the government’s reform objectives, along with the ongoing work associated with infrastructure rationalisation planning.

The key goals we aim to achieve in the next 12 months are: to successfully deliver the majority of the rationalisation pilot in north-west NSW; lay the foundations for a number of initiatives to continue improving the services provided to our users; manage NSW Government’s spectrum holdings in an efficient and effective way towards the ACMA compliance dates; and continue to build strategic partnerships with industry and agencies to deliver savings and better services.