Vertel launches national DMR Tier III network

Vertel has announced the national rollout of its new DMR Tier lll open standard trunked radio network, with the first phase in NSW complete.

Vertel has developed and tested the network over the past 12 months. Following a vigorous multivendor evaluation, the company selected Tait Communications to provide infrastructure to help deliver the network.

In the first phase of the rollout plan, the Vertel DMR Tier lll network will support Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and the surrounding regions. In the second phase, the network will roll out in Melbourne and Perth, and ultimately grow to form a national network.

The core infrastructure connecting this network is Vertel’s carrier-grade MEF certified network, bringing mission-critical standards to a commercial offering.

Vertel cites the recent research commissioned by ARCIA that found that the value of the spectrum used by the LMR industry is between $2 billion and $4 billion each year, with almost 40% of the value derived from the emergency services sector.

According to the research, 55% of the respondents regarded LMR as critical and essential for their business operations. The report also found that 87% of users strongly felt that digital technologies would form an important part of future LMR requirements, the technologies which the DMR standard enables.

Vertel says that networks based on the DMR standard offer a greatly improved two-way radio experience that yields operational benefits and efficiencies through clear communications, safety features and wide area coverage.

The new DMR Tier lll network will support a range of applications and features, including messaging, man-down alarms and GPS tracking, all of which help to ensure the safety of lone or remote workers.

“We are proud to bring two-way radio into the digital age,” said Andrew Findlay, Vertel’s managing director. “Over the next 2 to 3 years, we plan to expand our DMR network to significantly exceed the current range of our analog MPT network.

“To help construct the DMR network, we selected Tait after a rigorous trial and testing process,” added Findlay. “Their proven experience in large-scale open standard networks and depth of local support makes them the perfect partner for this landmark project.”

Enterprises will not need to replace their entire fleet of radios to access the network because multimode radios work on both analog and digital systems. This enables companies to migrate gradually and cost effectively from analog to digital, a requirement highlighted as critical by Vertel’s large customer base.

The open standard nature of the Vertel DMR Tier lll network creates a greater flexibility between terminals and applications from multiple vendors, giving much greater choice to the end users.

“We are excited to partner with Vertel in bringing a national open standards-based DMR network to Australia,” said Brett Smythe, general manager for Tait Asia-Pacific. “This open-standard technology will allow Vertel customers a greater freedom of choice and flexibility when migrating from the analog network.”