July/Aug 2004

The Isle of Man Government has invested $7.5 million in a TETRA-based wireless communications network and combined control centre for all the emergency services on the island.

It provides secure communications between police, fire and ambulance crews from one central multi-agency location, and also supports 16 government organisations looking after activities such as transport, forestry, tourism and the utilities. Motorola won the contract in February 2003, and the network has come into use over the past half year.

Underpinning the TETRA system is a multiplex "communications ring" from RAD Data Communications, which was developed and installed by its agent, communications specialist GFI Informatics. The ring provides backup communication paths in the event of disruption to the main service network. The network is considered future-proof, as the whole platform can migrate to IP (Internet Protocol) technology if this becomes appropriate in future.

Ironically, this large-scale new adoption of TETRA technology comes just as one of Britain's two main TETRA proponents, Dolphin, switches off its commercial network on the mainland. However, similar technology has been adopted by O2's Airwave business for a major roll-out to the mainland's emergency services. The Isle of Man system is completely separate from this.