Victoria signs AUD $500m deal to enhance emergency network

The Victorian Government has entered into a AUD $500 million deal with Motorola Solutions for the maintenance and enhancement of its emergency services' mobile radio network.

Known as the Metropolitan Mobile Radio (MMR) network, this system has been instrumental for Victoria's emergency responders during significant events, such as the 2023 floods and the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Over the past year, it has facilitated 50.5 million voice calls.

The new contract will bring about significant developments, such as incorporating Marine, Search & Rescue into the network, and deploying cloud services that allow automatic switching between land mobile radio, broadband, Wi-Fi, and satellite systems.

Con Balaskas, Managing Director for Motorola Solutions Australia and New Zealand, stated, "First responders face complex and unpredictable challenges that call for safe and resilient communications that are reliable in the harshest conditions, with the ability to connect and collaborate with other emergency services for multi-agency responses."

The contract, established with the Department of Justice and Community Safety, will see the MMR network's operation extended until 2035.

It will provide a secure channel for public safety agencies including Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria, Victoria State Emergency Service, and Life Saving Victoria.

Local support will be provided constantly by Motorola Solutions through their Melbourne-based operations control centre and field engineering teams, who will ensure the network's performance meets the P25 radio standards.

Balaskas added, "We're extremely proud that Motorola Solutions' MMR network has supported Victoria's emergency services for 20 years, providing essential communications while they've faced some of the most extreme events and disasters in the state's history."

"Now, through new software and broadband innovations, MMR's interoperable communication will extend to the farthest reaches of our state, from Mildura to Mallacoota, while enabling more agencies to connect to the network."

Enhancements under the new contract will commence in 2025 with the integration of Marine, Search & Rescue. Additionally, SmartConnect, a cloud-based service, will be introduced to expand user coverage by facilitating automatic switching between network types when radio coverage is unavailable.

To further enhance operational efficacy, 1,600 new APX NEXT smart radios with multi-band capabilities will be supplied to Ambulance Victoria's regional units, alongside the installation of 750 additional APX series multi-band mobile radios in regional ambulances.

Since its establishment in 2005, the MMR network has been a crucial element in the response capabilities of Victoria's public safety agencies, proven by the volume of communications weathering high-demand situations. The contract reaffirms the durability and indispensability of this communication system for managing public safety challenges effectively.

On a global scale, Motorola Solutions supports 13,000 land mobile radio networks across over 100 countries, with governments in nations such as Norway, Portugal, Denmark, and Austria similarly committing to long-term investments in land mobile radio communications.