UK Emergency Services Voice Concerns Over Radio Systems in Face of September 11th Scale Disaster
(17/09/2002, BWCS Staff)
In the wake of September 11th, unions representing New York firefighters cited inadequacies in the emergency radio communications network infrastructure as a major contributing factor to the loss of 120 firefighters in the attack. Leading wireless telecommunications consultancy, BWCS, has conducted research into the impact of a similar scale event on UK emergency services.
BWCS findings indicated that, in a disaster scenario, existing emergency service radio communications would be severely compromised. Moreover reliance on a single replacement digital radio network will leave the emergency services dangerously vulnerable. The £1.4bn digital network, Airwave, procured by the police has such inadequate data communications capability that many police forces are already planning to bypass it using cellular networks for datacomms that will almost certainly be fatally compromised in the event of a major catastrophe.
Graham Wilde, BWCS, Our research has uncovered some very serious issues. There is a real danger that the UK could spend billions of pounds on new technology and end up with a solution that is still seriously flawed. The government needs to examine closely the options for a second network alongside Airwave, and for a robust solution for data communications and vehicle location.
BWCS interviewed senior IT and communications managers from all three emergency services encompassing over 70% of the UK. The majority of respondents had major misgivings about the ability of their current systems to cope with a major disaster scenario, the police being least confident of all. Problems of capacity, redundancy and interoperability were all cited, with coverage raising the most concerns. These concerns are not all diminished with the introduction of digital radio systems. One police respondent observed, Due to the area/population core coverage criteria used by Airwave only 7% of our geographical region was covered because we are a rural force. It would be too expensive to have coverage everywhere.
All service respondents viewed access to more than one communications network as critical, with the police currently committed to the TETRA based Airwave, the other option available to fire and ambulance services is TETRAPOL Both are capable of providing voice and data communications. While credit is due to the Government for insisting each service should be on a single network, what became apparent is the concern over the approach to interoperability.
Options include any-to-any communication, for direct communication from police officer to fireman on the ground, through to inter-emergency service communication via command centres. It is a dangerous myth that (any-to-any level) interoperability is desirable but interworking at command centre level certainly is, noted one Fire Service respondent. Hindering the work of the emergency service by breaking the chain of command is a clear cause for concern.
Concerns were also raised over the future capability of data communications, concern centring upon capacity, followed by coverage and then data capability. Low or no confidence in the technology was rooted in the data transmission speed of Airwave, with the result that four police respondents are planning on relying on GPRS on cellular networks to transmit data. We have looked at GPRS and tested it but its too expensive and too subject to overload at the time of a major incident, which is just when its needed. Police Respondent.
About BWCS
BWCS is a leading wireless telecommunications consultancy, based in the UK and operating worldwide. We work with wireless operators, equipment vendors, wireless software providers and major corporate users on wireless communications strategy.
For more information, please visit our website at BWCS.com To contact the authors, please e-mail Peter.Kingsland@bwcs.com.
For further information, or to obtain a copy of the BWCS report please contact either:
Gary Marshall or Jeremy Wrench
Companycare Communications
Tel. +44 (0) 118 939 5900
E-mail gary@companycare.com. or
jeremy@companycare.com.
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