Telstra and Motorola Solutions sign contract to improve communications for Queensland’s public safety agencies

Following Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and Treasurer Tim Nicholls’ announcement that Telstra, supported by Motorola Solutions, has been selected as the preferred vendor for Queensland’s Government Wireless Network (GWN), it is confirmed today that the contract has been successfully completed.

Telstra and Motorola Solutions will now commence designing, building, operating and maintaining Queensland’s Government Wireless Network. The 15 year managed services partnership, worth $457.3 million, is designed to vastly improve the government’s communications infrastructure for the state’s public safety agencies.

The network, based on Motorola Solutions’ public safety communication technology, will provide enhanced digital communication and better coverage at key public locations for police, fire and ambulance officers in the GWN service areas.

The Government Wireless Network will allow public safety agencies to communicate better, faster and more securely than ever before using digital radio voice and narrowband data communications.

“Queensland’s Government Wireless Network is designed to support critical community services including police, fire and ambulance services,” said Chris Pearce, Executive Director, Government and Not for Profit, Telstra. “We look forward to building a communications system for public service agencies that will provide better coverage and functionality for public safety agencies to assist the community.”

“This is a very significant project for Queensland and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the highest levels of safety not only for our communities, but also for the thousands of emergency responders that put their lives on the line every day to protect them,” said Gary Starr, Vice President, Motorola Solutions, Australia and New Zealand.

The Government Wireless Network will initially be rolled out in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Cairns as the Sunshine State readies itself to play host to the G20 Summit meetings in 2014 and extend to the rest of the South-East in time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.