Motorola consortium secures Ireland's National Digital Radio Services contract.

CORPORATE IT UPDATE-(C)1995-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Ireland's National Digital Radio Services contract has been secured by a consortium consisting of communications solutions provider Motorola Inc (NYSE:MOT), Eircom and Sigma Wireless (TETRA Ireland), following the successful deployment

Motorola said the eight year, build-own-operator contract will begin with the introduction for services in an area incorporating parts of Dublin, including its airport and port, with nationwide rollout due to be completed within two years.

The consortium will develop a solution to include: encrypted and resilient digital radio network for instant communications for mission critical situations; and multi-functional handsets able to operate as digital radios and provide access to other public communication networks.

The solution will also incorporate GPS location tracking applications including automatic vehicle location and mobile data services; cross-border and cross-band capability providing compatibility with international networks; and secure nationwide inter-communication between all non-commercial public sector bodies.

TETRA Ireland is reportedly working closely with the network's end users, An Garda SiochAna, the Ambulance Service, Fire Service, Prison Services, Customs Service and all public sector agencies in Ireland, ensuring the new system meets their needs.

The network, which will run as a fully managed service, will improve communication between users, improving public safety for Irish citizens.

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