Next Generation Critical Communications Lead Entity

Next week our Director Steve Ferguson will be presenting to critical communications professionals from around the world at the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) in the United States. On the global stage, Aotearoa New Zealand is recognised for making rapid progress in scoping and procuring the Public Safety Network solution, and now having the Cellular Roaming and Priority services operating. Steve will share insights into how NGCC, the four emergency services Agencies and our vendors have made that happen together. Over the years, we’ve appreciated the support and advice from our international counterparts, and we are happy to use this presentation to reciprocate! Steve will also join a P25 panel and talk about the national resilience of the PSN solution thanks to including a Land Mobile Radio network as well as cellular services. He’s looking forward to meeting globally-recognised sector leaders and learning about emerging critical communications technologies, including through visits to AT&T and FirstNet, Built with AT&T. Representatives of our vendors, Hourua and Tait Communications are also attending the conference. #PublicSafetyNetwork #NGCC #Hourua #TaitSystemsNZ #IWCE #CriticalCommunications

Great to get our busy team together yesterday to welcome the Minister of Police and our Board’s Chair Rob Fyfe and other members in Wellington. Minister Mitchell thanked the team for the hard mahi that’s put the Public Safety Network Roaming and Priority cellular services in the hands of frontline responders. The Police Commissioner noted the Public Safety Network is already helping strengthen the safety and capability of the emergency services, and their support for the community. It was good to stop and smell the roses for ten minutes…and then get back to delivery! #PublicSafetyNetwork #EmergencyServicesNZ #CriticalCommunications #Hourua #TaitSystemsNZ #NGCC

Visiting NGCC board member TJ Kennedy took some time today to talk with Radio New Zealand about the evolution of critical communications and the Public Safety Network's live cellular Roaming and Priority services. He's also catching up with Fire and Emergency NZ, NZ Police, Wellington Free Ambulance and Hato Hone St John to hear how the PSN services are helping their frontline responders. #PublicSafetyNewtork #NGCC #Hourua #CriticalCommunications #TaitSystemsNZ https://lnkd.in/gy242SDn

From all at NGCC we’d like to send our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. We hope you have a festive time in the coming weeks and enjoy a great break doing whatever brings you joy.   It’s certainly been a big year of delivery to our emergency services Agencies with PSN Cellular Roaming and Priority now live. We’ve seen the metrics and heard the frontline stories, and we know the Agencies are seeing immediate and clear benefits. We launched the PSN Land Mobile Radio Network pilot area in South Canterbury and site acquisition and build is ramping up significantly across the motu. In December we welcomed the ECLI service onboard and are excited about the future of location services.   What we’ve achieved has been down to expertise, grit and focus but more than anything, it’s thanks to the team work and commitment from all involved, including Fire and Emergency NZ, Wellington Free Ambulance, NZ Police and Hato Hone St John, and our vendors, Hourua and Tait Systems NZ and many more supporters. For now, it’s time for a break for all of us to recharge. We’re looking forward to 2025 and making big strides with the LMR network and furthering our cellular offering to strengthen NZ’s emergency capabilities and NZ's public safety. A big thanks to all those in the emergency services who are keeping us safe over summer.   Season’s greetings to all. #PublicSafetyNetwork #NGCC #ems #MeriKirihimete #HoHoHo

A big thanks to Ministers Mark Mitchell and Brooke van Velden who joined us today to launch the Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service at Wellington Free Ambulance. Thanks to this new service, when cellular networks get congested or degraded, frontline responders’ PSN-enabled mobile phones and devices get priority access to coverage ahead of others. Sending devices to the ‘front of the queue’ for coverage when responders are working in large crowds or during significant weather-related emergencies helps them get on with their urgent and often life-saving work. Following the on time and on budget introduction of the PSN’s Cellular Roaming service in 2023, the Cellular Priority service has followed suit and is now live. It has already been rolled out to more than 6,000 frontline responders with an anticipated 35,000 users by 2026. Thanks to Hourua, One New Zealand and Spark New Zealand who have worked together with NGCC and the emergency services agencies to deliver a globally-leading multi-network solution for New Zealand’s emergency services. Also, a big shout out from down under to TJ Kennedy and FirstNet, Built with AT&T in the USA who've been so supportive of the Public Safety Network’s cellular solutions. #PublicSafetyNetwork #ems #OneNZ #Spark #Hourua #Firstnet #WellingtonFreeAmbulance

While Tait Systems NZ are building the approximately 500 site Land Mobile Radio (LMR) network, the Public Safety Network agencies are doing the mahi to install the new equipment they’ll need to begin using the new digital radio network once its live. And it’s a BIG job. Hato Hone St John, NZ Police, Wellington Free Ambulance and Fire and Emergency NZ will need to install new radios in about 7,200 vehicles and 1,300 buildings – and don’t forget the wiring! And around 30,000 emergency services personnel will be involved in the change-over to the new radio technology. Once in the hands of frontline responders, it will provide a shared modern, secure and reliable radio network to help them do their jobs, stay safe and support the public.   Ka rawe to Hato Hone St John who have shared their vehicle installation progress in this great little video fronted by Chris Laufale who happens to be Hato Hone St John’s project lead for the Public Safety Network.   #PublicSafetyNetwork #HatoHoneStJohn #CriticalCommunications #TaitSystems #EMS

Today NGCC has welcomed onboard the Emergency Caller Location Information (ECLI) Service, which has moved from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The ECLI Service automatically provides emergency services agencies with the likely location of the mobile device from which a person has made a 111 mobile call. This data helps emergency services speed up their response to an incident. Steve Ferguson, NGCC's Director says: "Bringing the ECLI Service into NGCC allows us to leverage our emergency sector focus and capabilities, and to deepen our expertise and support for the organisations who help keep our communities safe.” Read the media release: https://lnkd.in/ghMivrEX #NGCC #PublicSafetyNetwork #CriticalCommunications #PublicSafety

Chair of Next Generation Critical Communications, Rob Fyfe, today announced the appointment of business leader Greg Lowe as an independent member on NGCC's Executive Governance Board. Mr Fyfe said, “I am delighted to welcome Greg Lowe to the NGCC Executive Governance Board. Greg brings a proven track record in governance and is recognised as a business leader who successfully delivers complex infrastructure builds. He has a strong service ethos which is well-aligned with the Public Safety Network’s emergency services customers.” The Next Generation Critical Communications Executive Governance Board was established in 2020 to oversee the establishment of NGCC and to have ongoing oversight of the development and delivery of the Public Safety Network Te Kupenga Marutau for Fire and Emergency NZ, NZ Police, Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance. Read the media release: https://lnkd.in/gJhbdMQd #PublicSafetyNetwork #CriticalCommunications #NGCC #BECA #governance

It was ‘all for onesie and onesie for all’ as we got together for morning tea today in support of the Wellington Free Ambulance's Onesie Day annual appeal. Everything raised helps keep ambulance services free for anyone in Greater Wellington & Wairarapa and right now, all donations are doubled up to $50,000 thanks to a generous WFA supporter. If you would like to support Wellington Free Ambulance with a donation, you can do that here: https://lnkd.in/g7EgEEm #PublicSafetyNetwork #NGCC #WellingtonFreeAmbulance #EMS #OnesieDay

Yesterday Next Generation Critical Communications Lead Entity and the Land Mobile Radio network's vendor Tait Communications welcomed Minister Mark Mitchell to Tait's campus to launch the first component of the new network. Involving a small-scale network of eight digital radio transmission sites in South Canterbury, the emergency services, Tait and NGCC will carry out rigorous testing as part of preparing for the technology’s eleven region roll-out. Delivery of the Land Mobile Radio network will start in Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland in 2025, followed by the project’s remaining eight regions throughout 2025 and 2026.   The Minister said: “The jobs of our first responders - Ambulance Officers, Fire Fighters, and Police Officers are not easy. They go willingly into situations and places that most New Zealanders do not have to go. They put a lot at risk to keep New Zealanders safe,” says Mr Mitchell.   "Reliable, secure, modern communications are vital to frontline responders. The new Land Mobile Radio network will help coordinate these services, for the safety, wellbeing and prosperity of all New Zealanders.” Read the press release from Ministers Mitchell and van Velden: https://lnkd.in/gAz7kQPr  #PublicSafetyNetwork #CriticalCommuications #TaitCommunications #P25