Firelink

Citation

(2004), "Firelink", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 53 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2004.07953aaf.004

Firelink

Firelink

Firelink is a UK central government task force charged by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) with the project management and implementation of a national wide area radio system for the fire service and managed by officers from the HM Fire Service Inspectorate.

The wide area radio system currently in place within the fire service dates back to the 1970s, with low-band VHF radio spectrum. The new procurement exercise looks to replace the current system by end-2007.

Part of a national strategy to drive interoperability between the three emergency services – police, fire and ambulance – there will be a phased rollout by the selected contractor. The project aims for seamless interoperability on a voice and data level, with the same-service and multi-service application between wide area radio systems, excluding at-incident communications.

Keith Phillips, project director at Firelink, said: "The intention is to implement a modern radio system that will allow for potential future upgrades and enhancements. There is on-going tri-party dialogue between the NHS, PITO, ODPM Firelink and others on the subject of interoperability."

The Radiocommunications Agency through the Public Safety Spectrum Policy Group has joint responsibility for reviewing the spectrum requirements of the national radio system.

The procurement process does not define the technology but is an output-based approach. This is to ensure that user requirements remain a priority through the output/functional specification, guaranteeing a greater choice through access to a wide range of technical and commercial solutions. These would include the ability to receive voice, data, text and status messaging. The prime contractor will be responsible for end-to-end functionality – responsibility for the equipment, software and sub-systems supplied – with the choice of make/type of mobiles finalised with the award of the contract.

Thus, Keith Phillips affirms: "Firelink does not take a view on technology. Our primary concern is that the proposed system can meet our fire service functional and operational requirements."

The cost of the new system is to be met by the government, although the scope of what will be funded centrally will be finalised at award of contract; it is intended that it will include as a minimum requirement:

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  the capital costs of procuring and installing national end-to-end radio communications;

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  a solution for the fire service capable of meeting the voice elements of the national requirement;

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  the capital costs of a bearer capable of providing the data specification of that requirement;

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  the capital costs of integrating the national voice solution with existing or planned brigade control room systems; and

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  the contractor costs of installation.

Local fire authorities may have the opportunity of using the national procurement to secure functions and services outside the scope of what will be funded directly by the government. In these circumstances, the full cost of these additional functions and services is likely to fall to the fire authority.

However, as Keith Phillips explains: "Firelink will endeavour to ensure that the national system will incorporate all that brigades have specified in their Regional and Brigade Specifications as far as is possible and appropriate to the national strategy. We wish to avoid as far as possible brigades going out to tender again for additional applications. Where necessary the Firelink team will negotiate framework agreements with suppliers to enable brigades to procure specific requirements separately."

Issues of cost, regarding the need for separate procurement programmes for each of the emergency services and the deeper problems inherent in the modernisation of the fire service itself remain. However, in line with the modernisation agenda, the Firelink project's aim is to upgrade and integrate emergency services communications systems, which in the long term will undoubtedly enable a better response to national emergency situations.

The police already have a solution: O2's Airwave service, which is based on the TETRA standard. This network will be in place nationwide by the middle of 2005. Other customers who have contracted to use Airwave include the Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service, the Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service, Hereford & Worcester Ambulance Trust and the Ministry of Defence.

A deliverable challenge

By definition, the Airwave implementation is a massive and highly complex project. Numerous issues have already been resolved and many more will be as the network is rolled out nationwide.

In other words, potential customers can rest assured that each new implementation will benefit from early lessons in terms of refinement. Even so, Airwave delivery to fire services before the end of 2007 will undoubtedly be a challenge, but an achievable one.

Where Airwave is currently available, the customer feedback is extremely positive. All the reports say that users are delighted with the service and that it is making a major contribution to public safety. For example, the network is already delivering exceptionally clear speech quality to control room staff. We can demonstrate the veracity of this claim now, both within police forces and fire services.

Value for money

"We have invested in TETRA because it is an open standard, which has been developed and is supported by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)", says Afshin Attari, O2 Airwave's head of business development. "We believe that this standard will continue to stimulate an environment where choice and competitive pricing yield even greater value for customers.

"When you also consider that Airwave will operate for a minimum of 15 years after network roll-out is completed in 2005, it additionally represents long-term value for money. During this long life-cycle, we intend to fully exploit the expected future benefits of the TETRA standard, including faster data rates.

"Additional advantages of Airwave include joint planning and operational flexibility. That said, each fire service would still have a tailored solution to meet its unique operational requirements.

"This independence would not entail expensive new local or national initiatives. We and our delivery partners see our role as being to listen, understand and then work closely with Firelink and individual fire services to provide the right solution in each case."

Coverage, security and reliability

Airwave already guarantees geographically defined coverage for police forces. The advantage of this for fire services is that they would enjoy, certainly in most areas of the UK, a similarly high level of coverage. This is likely to be a major bonus, particularly in large towns and cities.

It is also worth noting that Airwave has been specifically designed to handle voice and data in a highly secure (encrypted) manner, in complete isolation from public services. This means that the press and others will no longer be able to scan transmissions and accessibility should never be an issue.

As for the network itself, redundancy and backup of the main components and routes is already in place. Further reliability enhancements are being applied to meet the requirements of existing customers, all of which will be available to potential users.

Total solutions

Our objective is to work actively with other market leaders to develop world-class voice and data solutions for our customers, in line with their modernisation agendas. An example is the interim five-year contract we won for the Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service.

This includes the provision and management of Airwave voice facilities, a comprehensive mobile data solution and mobile radio terminals. Developed in partnership with IMASS, this solution is similar in scope to the Firelink Project but more comprehensive as it provides a central management system and associated applications, for example end-to-end data management.

Benefits for the nation

Irrespective of the technology, all the evidence from governments in Europe and the USA indicates that a shared common technology platform, such as Airwave, is the only prudent way forward. Holland, Finland, Austria, Belgium, Germany and Italy have already decided that interoperability of this nature is an imperative.

When all is said and done, Airwave presents the three most vital emergency services, as well as other public safety users, with an opportunity to share a dedicated infrastructure. In doing so, the nation would be able to benefit from true joined-up communications on the ground for the very first time.