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Zinwave Launches new range of service-specific antenna units to complement enhanced wideband offering
Cambridge, UK, 28 March 2007 – Zinwave, a pioneer of next generation in-building cellular and wireless technology, today launches a new range of antenna units for its 2700 Distributed Antenna System (DAS) product family. The new 2770 range of service-specific antenna units consisting of the 2776, 2777 and 2778, have been designed to complement its existing wideband solution that delivers simultaneous support for 2G, 3G, Private Mobile Radio (TETRA and LMR), WiFi and WiMAX.
Hard times for spies – Rohde & Schwarz SIT increases security in mobile
Munich, 22 March 2007 — According to estimates, the annual damage caused by
Enhancing communications - with mobile mesh network
PacketHop, working with the Lakewood, New Jersey Police Department and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, successfully deployed the state’s first 4.9 GHz broadband mobile-mesh network. The PacketHop Communications System was utilised to enhance police communications, coordination and video surveillance during a music festival and a mock HAZMAT incident, in addition to ongoing patrolling and tactical response activities...
Efficiency gains strengthen national road network data
(7 March 2007) Ordnance Survey announces the latest quality figures for its most detailed geographic reference base defining Great Britain's road network.
Survey reveals majority of British businesses believe VoIP technology will transform working practices
VoIP and IP telephony is now having a significant impact on the way organisations run their businesses as revealed by a new survey released today. 80% of responding companies believe that the emerging industry of VoIP and IP telephony communications will help transform their working practices within the next two years.
Zetron Announces Its New Series 3300 VoIP 9-1-1 Call-Taking System
Zetron, Inc., has announced the introduction of the Zetron Series 3300 Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) 9-1-1 call-taking system. The Series 3300 is a standards-based solution that offers the advantages of IP without compromising reliability or performance. It retains the extensive and useful features available in Zetron’s Integrator 9-1-1 Computer Telephony Integration software while adding new features that increase system efficiency and interoperability.
Zetron Releases VoIP Radio Dispatch System
Zetron, Inc., a premier provider of mission-critical communications systems, announces the release of its new Voice-over-IP (VoIP) Radio Dispatch System, Version 1.5. The VoIP Radio Dispatch System (VoIP RDS) is built on the Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) – a widely accepted open standard that ties together VoIP with underlying protocol standards such as UDP and TCP/IP. This allows users to share a common voice communications IP network with SIP-based telephony and full-featured radio dispatch. Zetron’s end-to-end, pure IP, radio dispatching system was first deployed as a custom solution at Puget Sound Energy and is now shipping as a standard product release.
NICE Introduces NiceVision Net a Complete, End-to-End Solution for IP Video Security
March 26, 2007 - NICE Systems (NASDAQ: NICE), the global provider of advanced solutions that enable organizations to extract Insight from Interactions™ to drive performance, today announced the release of NiceVision Net, a complete, end-to-end solution for IP video security. NICE also announces NiceVision ControlCenter, an enhancement to its video management applications suite, including new capabilities for advanced control room management and a network based digital video matrix.
Microbus Integrated DVR for the M-PC2
The Microbus Integrated Digital Video Recorder (iDVR) solution for the M-PC2 In-vehicle computer allows the user to record video, and to review and save incidents in MPEG2 format for evidence packs. The use of a dedicated video encoder for this system means that existing applications can run unaltered. Both the recording and playback of incidents can be done simply through the computer’s colour touchscreen without the need for separate back office software.
Human resources and communications expert joins Hyder Consulting board
Hyder Consulting has appointed Misti Melville to its Group Executive Board as Human Resources and Communications Director.
The mobile desktop
It is fair to say that mobile data has been available for some considerable time, however, adoption of the technology across the public safety sector is governed by the ability to enhance operational effectiveness. In the first part of a series of articles looking at mobile data, we explore just how efficient the applications are...
Suppliers and users - the essential mix!
There is a real buzz around the industry at the moment as more and more commentators and experts discuss the merits of next generation networks or how technology can solve the world's problems. This is a sign of a market growing in confidence and ambition and I am sure that for BAPCO all this discussion and renewed confidence is a good thing.
Looking to the future for secure communications
Looking way into the future namely 2012 and the Olympics. It will be an exciting time for the United Kingdom and I am sure will pull the British people together, uniting to ensure that our Olympics will be the best ever in this prestigious International event. The world will be looking at the UK and expecting great things. Of course Security will be of major importance and all three Emergency Services will be under intense scrutiny, especially if there is an incident. A huge amount of preparation is taking place to ensure the Emergency Services are ready for any contingency and BAPCO is playing a major role. Because we represent the communications arena across Fire, Ambulance and Police, we are identifying critical issues where we can assist in a positive way and ensure our communications systems deliver against any requirement.
Innovative radio system used at Ashfield Prison
An innovative radio system, installed by Radio Communication Company, Ansur Communications, is providing major benefits for Ashfield Prison near Bristol. The Prison, home for up to 440 young offenders, is benefiting from a system called RMS-NET (Radio Messaging System), which, as well as providing basic voice radio communication for the Prison's Officers, gives text/status messaging and a full reporting structure for all radio traffic...
Editor's Letter
With only a few weeks to go until the doors open to BAPCO 2007, we are reminded of just how important interoperability issues and co-operation between our services are. New technology for tomorrows world is certainly an apt title, and it is new technology that we turn our focus to this month.
NGNs or Next Generation Networks are certainly a hot topic, and perhaps no more so than within the fire service at the moment. A number of brigades, along with many other civil contingency responders, are looking at the potential advantages that mobile mesh networks can bring to the fireground. Picture an incident, and the benefits of rolling out a rapid, ATEX approved (intrinsically safe) mobile communication solution that other public sector agencies can share. Plus, couple that with the benefits that not only voice communications but those of real time video streaming and mobile data usage, and GPS solutions bring - an interesting option no less! (see page 12)
This month we also take a closer look at recording solutions and ask what impact, if any the convergence of control rooms is having on integrating the technology. Plus how the systems can cope effectively with the ever increasing level of recorded data.(see page 6).
As always we welcome your views, opinions and input to ensure this magazine remains your number one choice for all public safety professionals...
Dawn Davison-Read
Editor - The BAPCO Journal
Soundbites
agreement with Network Rail
Ordnance Survey has entered into a new three-year agreement with Network Rail, worth £2.6 million, for the supply of a range of data products, including OS MasterMap Topography, Address and Imagery Layers.
new location based service
O2 Airwave has launched Airwave Locator, a new asset management system aimed at all public safety organisations including police and national roamers that need to know the whereabouts of their people and assets.
voice partner for health sector
Toshiba Business Communications Division (BCD) has confirmed a partnership with Voice Connect for private and public sector organisations in the UK. Toshiba BCD will now offer Voice Connect’s Patient Partner product as part of a continued strategic focus on the health sector, integrating seamlessly with its Strata CIX platform.
sms code marketing available
businesses and public sector organisations of all sizes will be able to set up and manage SMS Short Code campaigns in minutes thanks to a new service launched by PageOne. In particular, PageOne's FreeText solution, is ideal for public sector, which mimics the use of free-phone 0800 numbers, is an ideal way to encourage the public to contact an organisation without incurring a charge.
mobile operators plan to share radio access networks
Vodafone UK and Orange UK propose radio access network share in an unprecedented move. Commenting, Nick Read, CEO of Vodafone UK, said, "This proposal is industry leading and will enable the two companies to remain vigorously competitive against each other and the market, while realising the proven benefits of network sharing, notably faster roll out of high speed mobile services in the future and the earlier introduction of innovative products.”
International News In Brief
mobile mesh adds resale value
PacketHop has announced the PacketHop Value-added Reseller (VAR) Program for the public safety and municipal services markets. The VAR Program significantly enhances PacketHop's distribution footprint and enables VARs to improve their customers' communications capabilities.
terrorism preparedness
Lockheed Martin has been selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue providing support to the Agency’s Co-ordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COPTER). This five year contract has an estimated prgramme value of $135m.
greater accuracy with GPS
Chronos Technology's US based partner Symmetricom Inc. has completed the testing of its products that use GPS signals following the recent successful launch of a new GPS satellite for the US Air Force. This marked the third GPS mission launch in the past 14 months designed to replace older satellites and to keep the orbiting system in good working condition. The modernised GPS IIR satellites feature greater accuracy, increased resistance to interference and enhanced performance for users. With these recent launches, the GPS constellation of satellites now contains 31 operational satellites which may increase to 32 depending on satellite longevity and future scheduled replenishment launches.
Zetes completes Peak acquisition
The acquisition of Peak Europe from Peak Technologies Inc. has now been completed by Zetes (Euronext Brussels: ZTS), a leading pan-European systems integrator in the Automatic Identification industry for goods and people identification. The addition of Peak's European operations substantially reinforces the Company's presence in the UK, Germany and The Netherlands, and gives Zetes an operating base in Switzerland.
National emergency management approval
The Korean national Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has approved Sepura TETRA radio terminals fo ruse on Korea’s nationwide public safety netowrk, which is currently enterinfg its first phase of deployment. This decision follows an offical tender and product evaluation against a stringent set of criteria. The success was made possible by Promocom Corp, Seupra’s distributor in South Korea. Promocom is approved as the official supplier of Sepura radios to the national government network. Commenting, Sang-Yong Lee from the Installationa and Commission Team of Ansung City said, “Korean government agencies chose Sperua radios for their outstanding ease of use and design. In addition, Promocom’s excellent reputation and its future plans to set up a local repair centre were also influential factors.”
Contract doubles the size of Asia’s largest TETRA network
EADS and Beijing JustTop Communication Co., Ltd. have officially signed the contract on Phase-3 project of Beijing Government Shared TETRA Network. The Beijing Government's Shared TETRA Network, provided by EADS Secure Networks is already the largest digital trunking network in the Asia Pacific region. The extension will double the current network size both in terms of capacity and number of users. The network will provide seamless, secure radio communication for its users in the city of Beijing and environs.
interactive whiteboard research
Steljes has recently undertaken a telemarketing research campaign targeting every emergency planning officer in local government to understand and assess the use of interactive technology.
contract to supply over 300 control rooms to Norwegian fire, health and police agencies
The Norwegian Authorities have signed a contract for the delivery of the new country-wide data- and communications network based on TETRA technology exclusively with Siemens AS, Norway. At the same time Frequentis signed a sub-contract with Siemens for supplying all the Control Rooms within this project. Later in 2007 the roll-out will start with the first Control Rooms in the Oslo area and run for a couple of years until the last installations up in Svalbard (also known as Spitzbergen).
Investing in lone worker protection for public sector
Vodafone UK has confirmed the start of a programme that will provide free Lone Worker protection equipment to public sector organisations in order to research new and innovative uses of the kit in a broad range of environments.
Extending applications to the front line
The South West and South Wales along with the South East Regions of BAPCO have organised a joint event focussing on the increasing role of mobile data in rbinging benefits to field based operatives.
Stepping up responses with new technology
Momentum continues to grow for the new Imass STEPS solution, with South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SCAS) the latest to invest in the emergency planning and response software.
PITO CEO adressing the risks
Earlier this year, Phillip Webb, Chief Executive of the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) gave a speech on risk management at a conference in Southampton. The conference, entitled "Agents for Change - where next?" was jointly sponsored by HM Treasury and the National School of Government.
Recording - an analytical future
Recording equipment has evolved from the reel to reel devices of yesteryear. With this in mind and the impact that converging services, and the capabilities that recording solutions now offer the mission critical arena, we take a closer look at the current trends and what the future holds...
Taking an holistic approach to continuity planning
In this article, Dave Austin, head of continuity services, Siemens Insight Consulting, aims to explain how the disciplines of Crisis and Incident Management, Business Continuity, IT Continuity and Disaster Recovery link together into one coherent approach to assuring your organisation’s resilience.
A controlling position - Frequentis celebrates 60 years
With Frequentis celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Dawn Davison-Read meets up with John Gurney, managing director, Frequentis UK to discover why the company name is synonymous with communication and information systems for the mission critical arena...
Conference designed to meet CCA requirements
With the growing number of challenges from diverse sources, such as the threat of disasters from natural and man-made scenarios, to addressing the requirements of the CCA and meeting organisational changes, The BAPCO Conference and Exhibition is set to make a serious impact. Continuing with our series of previews, this month we take a closer look at the conference programme, underlining why it is one that should be highlighted on your calendar...
Business continuity - The Risk Management Expo and Conference 2007
Later this month, a plethora of experts will converge at London’s ExCeL to provide an opportunity to disseminate information relating to business continuity...
High performance security for IP storage networks
By Michael Spencer, Senior Solutions Architect, CipherOptics
Public sector businesses merge
SunGard has announced that it has merged its UK Public Sector Solutions business, formerly a part of Chertsey-based SunGard Sherwood Systems, with its Chippenham-based Vivista business unit.
Members meet in East Mids for topical discussion
The East Midlands and Anglian Region of BAPCO held a meeting in Peterborough on the first of February...
Scottish Regional Event - a success!
BAPCO (Scotland) held a successful seminar and exhibition at Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Headquarters in Hamilton on Wednesday 14th February 2007.