Plans to introduce a new communication technology platform for Australia’s emergency services have taken a step forward with a feasibility trial announced for the national Public Safety Mobile Broadband program.
Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud said the national Program would deliver a mobile broadband platform to help emergency service organisations communicate more reliably.
“This platform will cut across organisational and geographical boundaries, helping to keep Australians and our police and emergency service workers safe,” Mr Littleproud said.
“One of the lessons from the Black Summer bushfires was the critical importance of communications–staying connected and getting access to information to make decisions can save lives,” he said.
“This is a major step forward towards delivering a faster and smarter national capability for our emergency services to fuse critical information, make informed decisions quickly, and act on those decisions with confidence.”
Mr Littleproud said the New South Wales Government, on behalf of the Federal Government and all State and Territory Governments, would work with Nokia, TPG Telecom and Optus to develop and test technology in the feasibility trial.
The Minister said the trial would help shape the design of the national platform for emergency service communications.
He said expediting a Public Safety Mobile Broadband capability in Australia was a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements following the 2019/2020 Australian bushfires.
