“Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is ranked in the top 3 Fire Services in the Country by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire & Rescue services (HMICFRS) and strives for operational excellence combined with value for money,” said Ed Miller, Cambridge FRS Operational Response. “We began to experience a breakdown in reliability, poor Firefighter confidence and we recognised that certainly in regard to our BA (Breathing Apparatus) radios a lack of spares due to end of life equipment being used. The project team collaborated and identified what was required from our new equipment to support operational incident command and control and effective communications for our breathing apparatus teams.”

After a successful tender proposal, technical reviews, and rigorous fireground testing, Radiocoms secured the five year agreement to design, deploy and support a MOTOTRBO™ critical communications radio system for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Services’ 28 operational stations. Effective fireground communications are crucial for Fire and Rescue services when attending and resolving an incident; especially when major events occur which may require multi-sector or cross border deployments, interoperability is crucial. Breathing Apparatus (BA) communications play a vital part in operational effectiveness and safety, since BA represents a safety control measure that allows firefighters to breathe in atmospheres that are oxygen deficient, toxic and hazardous.

The feature rich and robust MOTOTRBO DP4601e and DP4801 Ex GPS DMR hand portable radios from Motorola Solutions were selected to replace the Services’ mixed manufacturer analogue two-way radio fleet. These new digital radios which are configured to the UKFRS NOG (National Operational Guidance) deliver high performance in a fireground scenario, supporting the intense amount of fast paced communications between the Incident Command Officers, Entry Control Officers and firefighters.

Nothing is faster than push-to-talk radio (PTT) and MOTOTRBO offers instantaneous communications, along with other benefits including superb audio quality with multiple noise suppression levels, increased battery performance utilising IMPRES™ technology and migration from analogue to digital to name a few. The deployed solution offers future expansion capabilities to support software and application services.

With mature processes built in accordance with industry compliance, Cambridgeshire FRS also now benefits from Radiocoms fully managed service. As their strategic communications partner, Radiocoms worked closely with them during the road-mapping, onboarding and deployment phases to ensure the Fire Service would benefit from all the available support services to keep their critical communications up to date. This personalised service is also supported by Motorola Solutions enhanced warranty providing access to technical support and software updates with repair services to cover normal wear and tear.

Ed Miller concluded, “ The competitive process identified that Radiocoms could provide us with the solution by providing the technical support, devices and necessary ancillary equipment to take us into 2025. We look forward to working closely with Radiocoms and have forged a strong relationship with their team already.”

Simon Bingham, FRS Technical Account Manager added, “Our award for this project is a significant achievement and is testament to our long standing relationship with the UK’s Fire and Rescue Services, providing robust and secure DMR digital radio solutions for over 14 years. Cambridgeshire FRS new MOTOTRBO radio communication solution will support the emergency services high level, complex requirements and the dynamic environments they face.“

John Charlton, Channel Account Manager UK&I added, “I’m incredibly pleased to see the continued investment in Motorola Solutions’ MOTOTRBO radio solutions within the UK Fire and Rescue Service for fireground communications. The advancements we are making give us the ability to improve the safety and effectiveness of the firefighter operating in mission critical moments. Radiocoms have played a pivotal role in the deployment and continued support of many Motorola Solutions fireground solutions in the UK.”

About Radiocoms Systems Ltd

Award winning, Radiocoms Systems Ltd is a mature communications company and is now the UK’s leading independent communications supplier specialising in the design, commissioning, deployment, and maintenance of wireless voice, video, and data networks. Supported by a network of field engineers and sales professionals based throughout the UK, their Head Office located in London is complemented by regional sites in Heathrow, Manchester and Swansea. Radiocoms is one of the few communications companies that is able to provide a truly national service.

About Motorola Solutions

Motorola Solutions is a global leader in mission-critical communications and analytics. Their technology platforms in mission-critical communications, command centre software, video security & analytics, bolstered by managed & support services, make communities safer and help businesses stay productive and secure. At Motorola Solutions, they are ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at www.motorolasolutions.com.

Image Credit Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.