Tait Telstra Network Melbourne Commonwealth Games

Media release
For immediate release

Tait Teams Up With Telstra
in State Radio Network Upgrade Across Tasman

– Network to Power Radio Communications at
Melbourne Commonwealth Games

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Caption: Tait Technical Support Engineer Paul Hinton monitors performance on the Tait/Telstra mobile radio network that will power radio communications at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

22 February 2006, Christchurch, New Zealand: Leading New Zealand mobile radio communications company Tait Electronics and Telstra have upgraded a statewide mobile radio network that will vastly improve communications for police and officials at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Tait joined forces with Telstra to successfully complete the major upgrade of the Victorian StateNet mobile radio network, in a contract worth about NZ$20 million to the radio communications provider. The contract is a core component of the Victorian State Government’s commitment to providing improved communications to Victoria’s regional and rural emergency services.

Seven extra sites have been added to the 101-site radio network, for specific use at the Commonwealth Games. The seven sites will cover most games venues and will provide about 2000 portable and mobile radio users – including games officials and Victoria Police – with improved voice quality and more widespread and reliable radio coverage.

Tait and Telstra technical staff in Melbourne will be monitoring network performance in real time during the games, to ensure efficient channel loading, observe call times and monitor network traffic. Tait technical support staff in Christchurch are also constantly monitoring the StateNet network performance to ensure ongoing availability.

Tait’s Australian subsidiary based in Brisbane provided network switching and radio technologies as part of Telstra’s contract to replace Victoria’s trunked radio network, and the subsidiary completed the project in a record time of 10 months.

Global skills and experience secure contract for Tait

“Tait competed against strong global competition to secure this contract. Our international workforce of skilled and experienced staff based in Christchurch and Brisbane earned our success, and we have since been able to demonstrate the significant value we can add to projects of this size,” says Michael Chick, Tait Electronics’ Managing Director.

“The successful completion of the network upgrade in record time is testament to Tait’s ability to develop and deliver public safety technologies that support the security and well-being of the community,” Mr Chick adds. “This is just the beginning of our collaboration with Telstra – we are committed to providing them with ongoing support and value-added solutions on the new network.”

Commenting on the project, Keith Richardson, Telstra’s Director of Strategic Business, says, “We are truly delighted to partner with innovative organisations such as Tait and are engaged in a long-term relationship with them to support the StateNet mobile radio network.”

“The network will significantly improve emergency response systems in Victoria and we are committed to the delivery of safer, stronger communities for the long term.”

The Victorian StateNet mobile radio network upgrade was one of the largest infrastructure projects managed by Telstra last year, covering 101 sites, 500 channels and four switch nodes, and supporting more than 17,000 portable and mobile radios.

As the network is designed and built using open standards, it enables interoperability and increased coordination between state-wide emergency services and essential services. The upgraded network also provides enhanced data application capabilities to help support the increasing requirements of information management in the field.

As part of the StateNet mobile radio network upgrade, Telstra will provide support to emergency services organisations and other users in regional and rural Victoria well into the next decade. Telstra will also add additional features and functionality that will be provided as part of the new infrastructure.

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About Tait Electronics

Tait Electronics Ltd was formed in 1969 and is a leading provider of radio communications equipment to 160 countries.

The company’s global headquarters is in Christchurch, New Zealand, and its research and development operation is one of the largest in its sector in Australasia. Tait employs about 800 people in New Zealand and in its wholly-owned customer service operations in Australia, Singapore, Thailand, China, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and the United States.

Tait exports more than 95% of its products, with customers ranging from small private businesses to large multi-national corporations, government agencies, emergency services, network providers and specialist communications agencies.

Tait’s product offering has grown beyond its roots in conventional two-way mobile radio to encompass a wide range of products and services – from portable and mobile radios through to wide area trunked radio network systems that provide integrated radio and telephone services for both voice and data communications.

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