The federal government has awarded a $130 million contract for vehicles for the Australian Defence Force's Special Operations units, complete with specialised communications and networking capabilities. [ + ]

Radio Spectrum Management has issued its September update on spectrum regulation matters, including a review of the Radiocommunications Act, white space licensing and prohibited equipment. [ + ]

New Zealand Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams has announced draft licensing rules for the use of television white space devices in New Zealand. [ + ]

Zetron's AcomEVO console system equipped with the P25 Console Subsystem Interface (CSSI) has completed successful testing with Harris's P25 Phase-II infrastructure. [ + ]

Dumb thieves try to steel copper; Comms Connect - make sure you're there; Telstra trialling 700 MHz; Army surplus mobile comms; Life after LTE; Disaster comms workshop

Canada-based Neoterra Systems, producer of fleet management products, has signed a distributorship agreement with The Orion Network in Australia and New Zealand. [ + ]

With its theme of 'Spectrum rebooted: taking stock', ACMA's RadComms2014 will provide an opportunity to hear about the challenges and choices facing the radiocommunications sector. [ + ]

ARCIA is inviting members of the radio and critical communications industry to participate in an important survey on the radiocommunications industry in Australia. [ + ]

Specialist business-to-business magazine and digital publisher Westwick-Farrow Media (WFM) - publisher of Critical Comms - has launched Field Service Business, Australia's first dedicated media channel for the field service sector. [ + ]

Optus has confirmed that its latest, state-of-the-art Optus 10 satellite is scheduled for launch from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, on Friday, 12 September. [ + ]

FirstNet wants to use off-the-shelf tech; Adelaide Uni to research SDN; Students develop radio software bridge; Hoax spurs police beacon chase.

ASTRID, the Belgian TETRA network, registered twice the normal amount of radio traffic during this month's WWI memorial ceremonies. [ + ]

Following the 6.5-magnitude earthquake in Yunnan, China, on 3 August, Hytera donated emergency communications equipment and sent a team of engineers for communications support. [ + ]

Comms Connect Melbourne will this year feature three concurrent streams of speaker sessions and panel discussions, with the addition of a Public Safety & Emergency Management stream. [ + ]

A wearable gadget that tackles an individual's communication, safety and wellbeing requirements has won a Red Dot Design Award 2014 in the category of Design Concept. [ + ]