Source: Radio New Zealand
A new system to ensure cellphones get through in emergencies is being opened up to community groups. RNZ
A new billion-dollar-plus system to better ensure cellphones get through in emergencies is being opened up to a raft of community groups.
About 25,000 frontline responders are already using the Public Safety Network’s (PSN) cellular service, which extends coverage and gives extra back-up. It shows cellphone outages in real time.
The government has now opened up the service to central and local government entities, not-for-profit organisations, and infrastructure and lifelines companies.
“They all need to use their mobile phones and other tools to get good information to do their jobs, co-ordinate with each other and stay safe,” said Steve Ferguson, who heads up the Next Generation Critical Communications unit delivering the PSN.
“We can now help them with that,”
The expansion is timed to begin from the middle of next year, via a new limited liability company.
“With top-tier emergency communications in place, New Zealand will be better prepared to respond to the variety of disasters we have seen over the past few years, such as Cyclones Gabrielle or Tam,” said Emergency Management and Recovery Minster Mark Mitchell.
Another leg of the $1.4 billion PSN system to roll out digital radios is still being worked on.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
