Emergency Services Mobile Data Network - Victoria

Project name - Mobile Data Network

Value - $140 million (Net Present Value August 2003)

Status - Service Delivery Commenced

Managed By - Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority as agent for the Department of Justice.

Vendor - Motorola Australia Pty Ltd

Contract Scope - To design, build, finance and provide support services to the network. The contract was executed on 25 June 2003.

The project involves provision of new telecommunications infrastructure (data networks and towers) and new information technology equipment (customised computers).

The term of the contract is for five years (from operational commencement) with the State having the option of a further two-year extension.

Current State - completed 2.5 years of design, construction and commissioning. The computer terminals have been rolled-out and the network is operational.

Description - The Mobile Data Network (MDN) is a major upgrade to Victoria's capacity to deal with large scale emergencies, as well as day-to-day activities.

Proposed Value of Service - The new dedicated wireless communications network will provide significant operational benefits to Victoria Police and the Metropolitan Ambulance Service, with access via in-car touchscreen, state-of-the-art interactive in-vehicle computers. This provides access a wide range of key information, any place, any time.

The new functionality the system is delivering includes:

allow important information about the emergency and the people involved to be sent directly to the vehicles involved
use Satellite technology to track vehicle location, allowing the closest vehicles to be sent to an emergency
give mobile access to databases such as vehicle registrations and drivers licences; and
allow police to submit paperwork via computer while still in the field.

Value Delivered - This telecommunications infrastructure is facilitating increased responsiveness of the emergency services organisations to the community in the greater Melbourne and Geelong areas.

The MDN project is part of the Government’s Statewide Integrated Public Communications Strategy (SIPSaCS), an overarching framework for emergency services communications. Along with the Emergency Alerting System Project and the Metropolitan Mobile Radio Project, MDN forms a major investment and upgrade in technology infrastructure.

Contact information Peter Taylor, General Manager, Service Department, ESTA. Phone: 613 9695 2845