Interoperability still key to communications: the recent BAPCO conference and exhibition resonated with debate about interoperability: Can suppliers achieve it? To what level is it needed? How can we achieve it in the interim before the national system is implemented? All these issues were addressed and hotly debated while some case study solutions were offered - Conference Review - British Association of Public Safety Communications Officers

Concluding the conference HMI Keith Phillips, head of the Firelink team, outlined the project's progress to date, its objectives and addressed some concerns about sustaining the existing systems, and achieving interoperability until the new national system is in place.

HMI Phillips confirmed that the Firelink project has developed and populated a national brigade database, the OJEC notice was issued three months ahead of schedule, while the operational continuity plan has been expedited. The remaining steps for the project include issuing the invitation to submit proposals, receipt of proposals from industry, receipt of best and final offers, the award of contract and completion of implementation.

Mr Phillips stressed to delegates that the new dimension threat identified after September 11 is present now, saying: "We do not have the luxury of waiting for the Firelink national solution to be delivered to respond to the threat." Having so directly identified the current threat he urged brigades to consider the issues associated with ensuring the continued operation of existing radio systems in the event of a major disaster or terrorist attack. To do so he recommended implementing measures considered necessary to ensure the maintenance of effective wide area radio communications and maintain and enhance interoperability in the interim.

Outlining work to date on operational continuity, HMI Phillips told conference that fire authorities have completed their risk assessments, assisted by the Firelink team in evaluating the assessments and advised by the team on maintaining existing systems. Moreover, the Firelink team is currently evaluating means to deliver interoperability in the immediate term, related HMI Phillips.

He identified the main concerns surrounding the sustainability as financial and technical. The financial concerns revolve around the shared ownership of existing systems, particularly the maintenance costs and the disposal of equipment, while the technical concern is the sustainability of ageing or obsolete equipment.

On the topic of sustainability HMI Phillips referred delegates to the Firelink project guidance note 18 which advised brigades not to adopt interim voice solutions as it may lead to additional complexity to achieve interim interoperability, additional costs to achieve interoperability and pose a risk to the Firelink national procurement.

Discussing interoperability, HMI Phillips related that for inter fire brigade interoperability the Firelink project would deliver common national 'at incident' UHF channels, with a progressive enhancement to wide-area interoperability leading to a full national wide-area same service interoperability. On Fire Service interoperability with other emergency services HMI Phillips referred delegates to the existing joint agreement between the Fire, Police and Ambulance Services, the specifications of which will be met by the Firelink solution, particularly as technology is not a barrier to this level of interoperability. In the interim, HMI Phillips reminded delegates of the existing UHF interagency channels 69 and 70.

He went further, promising that the Firelink team had learnt from September 11 and examples of international, multi-agency and cross-technology interoperability, and that all these lessons will be incorporated into the Firelink solution.

Looking to the future, HMI Phillips identified post-contract award areas for consideration as integration with legacy systems, vehicle installations, changes to operating procedures, training and acceptance testing.

An example of an interim solution was presented by ACO Mark Webster, Cornwall Fire Brigade, who described to delegates the partnership approach taken to the provision of radio communication services in Cornwall. Prompted by the poor service and gaps in coverage of the brigade's degrading AM low band radio system, Cornwall Fire Brigade in partnership with the county's Planning, Transportation and Estates Department, purchased and implemented, following proper consultation, a system based on a MPT1327 trunked radio system. The brigade purchased the system before the national procurement was announced.

The choice of MPT1327 was made after discussing proposals from TETRA and GSM based solutions. ACO Webster commented: "The final solution has exceeded our expectations, the project has delivered a scheme that offers valuable and additional functionality to radio voice communications." Indeed, coverage has increased from 85 per cent on the old system, to 98 per cent on the new system.

ACO Webster was however, keen to stress that the current intention is for the brigade to continue to use the scheme as an interim solution until the outcomes of the Firelink project are available but will maintain a dual fit in vehicles for resilience and interoperability with council departments. The Highways department will continue to use the scheme for the contract period of ten years.

The Cornwall Fire Brigade solution will be covered in further detail in a future issue.

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