Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

U.K. Gov’t Taps EE for New 4G Emergency Network

By Diana Goovaerts | December 10, 2015

Share

U.K. wireless operator EE announced Thursday it has been selected by Britain’s Home office to provide the country with a new, resilient 4G network to connect emergency service providers.

EE said it will expand coverage and augment the network’s resilience to meet critical communications standards.

“We are immensely proud to be selected to deliver this vital new network for Britain’s Emergency Services,” EECEO Olaf Swantee said in a statement. “We’ve worked closely with the Police and Ambulance crews to show the power of 4G in helping save time and save lives. We will now work tirelessly to deliver a highly resilient, truly nationwide 4G network to serve all of Britain’s Blue Light and First Responder teams across the UK.”

The announcement follows the November release of Parliament’s 2015 spending review and autumn statement, in which the U.K. government laid out plans to invest nearly 1 billion pounds in building a new mobile digital technology through the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme.

According to the plan, the new network will connect all emergency services on the same broadband network for the first time to “enable officers to access key police databases, take mobile fingerprints and electronic witness statements and stream live body-worn video – all while on the move.” The effort, the government said, will cut costs for the taxpayer and free up officer capacity.

EE said its new 4G Emergency Services Network (ESN) will replace the country’s existing system when the current contracts expire in mid-2017.

The carrier said it had already planned to invest about $2.2 billion (1.5 billion pounds sterling) on network improvements through 2017, but will increase spending to successfully provide the new ESN.

As part of its investments for the new emergency network, EE plans a number of initiatives, including everything from building a dedicated core network to activating low frequency 800 MHz spectrum at more than 3,800 sites.

On Thursday, Motorola Solutions also announced it has signed a “Lot 2” contract to provide user services on the ESN.

The plan to build a network for emergency service providers is reminiscent of the United States Federal Communications Commission’s 2012 FirstNet project.

Plans for FirstNet include a nationwide network for first responders in the D block 700 MHz spectrum. Nearly $7 billion from the AWS-3 spectrum auction has been set aside for the network’s buildout, though doubts have arisen about the likelihood of completing the project at that price point.

Recently, Evercore pegged U.S. carrier Verizon as the most likely to be chosen to complete the buildout.


Filed Under: Infrastructure

 

Related Articles Read More >

Do Sensors Make Infrastructure Safer?
Crawling Robots and Flying Drones May Help Missouri’s Bridges
Viasat and Facebook Collaborate to Expand Internet Connectivity in Rural Mexico
Smartphone-Based System to Monitor America’s Crumbling Infrastructure

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Global supply needs drive increased manufacturing footprint development
  • How to Increase Rotational Capacity for a Retaining Ring
  • Cordis high resolution electronic proportional pressure controls
  • WAGO’s custom designed interface wiring system making industrial applications easier
  • 10 Reasons to Specify Valve Manifolds
  • Case study: How a 3D-printed tool saved thousands of hours and dollars

Design World Podcasts

May 17, 2022
Another view on additive and the aerospace industry
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings