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New ideas, new opportunities
It’s that time of the year when we commercial members start to plan towards the annual BAPCO conference and exhibition and our purse string holders say “no” far too often and about the most unfair things – of course we need new display material, plasma TVs and palm trees – why can’t they see that? The exhibition is well supported again this year with a number of newcomers, I wish them well and hope that they realise benefits through their attendance. The conference is looking to break new ground in its format and intends to deliver thought leadership and points of view that will raise the Association’s profile to new levels. I sincerely hope that this objective comes about since we are surely mature enough to be leading debate and shaping the future of public safety communications in the UK.
I am monitoring with great interest the growth of city centre wireless networks, it looks like the Martini solution to telecommunications is soon to be upon us. As many user groups start talking about next generation networks I wonder what part these networks or this technology may play in future emergency service communication solutions here and across Europe. Of course these networks will encourage ever greater use of non-voice traffic and while talk of mobile data has been with us for what appears to have been an eternity I get the impression from colleagues across the emergency service spectrum that it is truly coming of age and they are growing in confidence in their deployments and becoming ever more inventive with applications. I have been involved in organising a joint regional event on the subject of delivering wireless applications to field based workers and the enthusiasm and support I have received from speakers has been very encouraging, there is a real buzz around this subject at the moment. The event, details of which can be found elsewhere in the Journal, looks at the business case, technology choices and implementation challenges while also getting an update from a range of user groups as to where they are and where they are going in this field.
As I write I am anticipating some significant procurement outcomes, which may be announced by the time you read this. Particularly, I hold my breath on the FiReControl technology provider decision and the Irish mobile radio contract, both extremely important steps in determining the future shape of services in England and Ireland. I wish the lucky companies well in what is always the harder part in my opinion, delivering against the sales pitch!
Peter Prater, Chair
Commercial Advisory Group
