Motorola Solutions is to supply New Zealand Fire Service with some 4500 new personal mobile radios for firefighters that include a speaker/microphone integrated into the firefighter’s breathing apparatus. Spark will provide in-country support including service management and a customer support desk.
Paul Baxter, chief executive and national commander of the New Zealand Fire Service, said the new radios would help resolve radio interface issues with firefighters’ breathing apparatus, deliver improved noise cancellation and have longer battery life than the current system.
He added that, by operating across both VHF and UHF bands, “This radio solution enables us to move away from using a mix of models and frequencies and toward a nationally consistent standard that will make it easier to work with our emergency service partners.”
Murray Mitchell, director ICT for the New Zealand Fire Service, said the new radios would help firefighters work more safely and efficiently. “We wanted a solution that is safe, easy to use and doesn’t distract firefighters from their work during critical incidents.”
The radios are part of a five-year contract under which related government agencies can also acquire the technology.