Hampshire emergency services establish unified comms network with Motorola

The network uses Motorola Solutions' Wave 5000 Mobile Communicator to support text and voice

A unified communications network is being established at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), through a collaboration between Motorola Solutions and Radiocoms.

On the 10th anniversary of Motorola launching its ‘Mototrbo' professional two-way radio system, Hampshire FRS is to deploy 1,000 units, along with the Wave 5000 Mobile Communicator service. The intent is to ease communication between staff, as well as increase safety.

"The safety of our local Hampshire citizens and wellbeing of our firefighters is of paramount importance to the fire service, which is why we have chosen to upgrade our communications equipment to an advanced digital system. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service aims to be fully digital by August 2017," said Peter Clarke, station manager operational technologies.

Motorola's new Mototrbo DP4601e radios feature push-to-talk communication; enhanced audio quality and battery life compared to existing models; integrated accelerometers for ‘man-down' protection; and Bluetooth, GPS and WiFi.

The Wave 5000 service will be used in Command Support Vehicles, to hook radios into the Airwave network (used by all of the UK's emergency services) and Hampshire FRS's own DMR talk group. Staff will be able to communicate over the system using voice or text, using a range of networks, in ‘any' environment, through an app. Firefighters entering hazardous environments can switch to an ATEX version (DP4801Ex) of the Mototrbo radios, featuring a high ATEX/IEC gas explosion group rating.

Phil Jefferson, Motorola Solutions VP of sales and service for the UK and Ireland, said, "Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is an example of how public safety organisations are turning to the Mototrbo range to connect teams effortlessly and efficiently wherever they work, driving workforce productivity and, most importantly, safety."