Plextek champions Cambridge Wireless Security and Defence SIG event

Wireless spectrum has long been an important topic within the global commercial communications agenda yet public services’ communications are often overlooked. However, with London hosting the next Olympic Games in 2012, public safety communication is fast becoming a priority as the UK police and other public safety and security bodies have a critical requirement for communications equipment that is 100% available, reliable, resilient and secure.

The emergency services’ existing private wireless digital voice network TETRA was originally designed for voice communications but lacks the data capacity to support emerging high bandwidth communication applications such as the demand for officers to be able to use PDAs on patrol to access useful database information.

Bridging the gap between commercially available technology and that currently used in our public safety services would be sure to bring benefits to this sector, as well as reducing time and therefore cost.

The Cambridge Wireless Security & Defence SIG event will feature presentations from key industry speakers including Plextek’s Mark Hunter, David Chater-Lea from Motorola, David Richardson from Airwave, Dr. Robert Brammer from Northrop Grumman and Sepura’s Malcolm Quelch. They will debate a variety of crucial topics including how best to address public sector users’ increasing demand for 24/7, secure, reliable, resilient and high bandwidth communications. Plextek’s Mark Hunter will specifically look at the user requirements of public safety services, the technology fundamentals, the challenges of meeting those requirements and options for future developments to improve operational effectiveness when using mobile data networks in the field.

Dr Mike Roberts, Senior Project Consultant within Plextek’s Defence Group and co-champion of the SIG event explains: “Attendees of the seminar will have the opportunity to gain a valuable insight into the possible innovative and secure communication networks options currently being discussed as solutions for various specific public security applications. The event will also look at how to improve operational efficiency through the use of these networks in the field – a topical and important consideration for those within this sector.”