Hourua

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

Register https://lnkd.in/g7v34Pvz, the first joint webinar between TCCA-Critical Communications and GSMA APAC #5g Industry Community about 'Advancing Public Safety Critical Communication: From Voice-Centric to Data-Driven Solutions'. Great speakers line up from across industries and markets - Kevin Graham, TCCA-Critical Communications - Vaughan Matthews, Hourua - Paul Smith, Next Generation Critical Communications Lead Entity - Alan Seery, Australasian Critical Communications Forum Limited - Rory McDonnell, Nokia - Muneeb Ali, Airbus Public Safety and Security - Song Guo, China Mobile Hong Kong - David Smith, Dip IoD. Huawei - Prakash Sadagopan, Nokia - Jolly Wong, Policy Fellow, Centre of Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, Visiting Professor, Macau University of Science and Technology - Terence Wong, GSMA #apac5gic

While Kiwis have been wrapping-up and heading along to pack our sports stadiums this winter, engineers from Hourua and One NZ have been taking the opportunity to do some testing as they move towards delivering the new Public Safety Network Cellular Priority service this November ready for agencies to begin using. The huge demand on the One NZ mobile network caused by tens of thousands of fans using their mobile devices creates the perfect opportunity for engineers to move around the venue with phones in hand measuring network behaviour alongside the features of the new cellular service. Emergency services’ mobile phones and devices with Public Safety Network Cellular access will be able to use the new Priority service meaning their communications get priority access to the network ahead of other users when cellular networks are congested or degraded. This helps ensure they have the communications they need to do their work, especially when communities need them most - like in large weather-related emergencies. The next phase of Cellular Priority testing will take a scenic turn next month when engineers and Public Safety Network emergency service agencies head to remote areas of Aotearoa to set-up mobile coverage they can ‘flood’ with use – replicating congested networks. That means they’ll be able to fully test the new cellular service in a live environment without impacting any customers. Cool eh?! #PublicSafetyNetwork #CriticalCommunications #Hourua #OneNZ #NextGenerationCriticalCommunications

It was good to speak with Donny Jackson of IWCE's Urgent Communications last week in Orlando at the IWCE annual conference. We caught up on the terrific work being done by the Next Generation Critical Communications team in New Zealand on the Public Safety Network.

Read all about it! Our latest Public Safety Network update includes info on: the uptake and impact of the PSN Cellular Roaming service; a lab visit to see PSN Cellular Priority at work; news of a small-scale fully-functioning LMR area for agencies to test their new radios; and we're taking some Compact Rapid Deployable units for a spin. #PublicSafetyNetwork #CriticalCommunications #Hourua #P25

We are delighted to announce that Hourua has joined us as a new member of TCCA, and very much look forward to working with Vaughan Matthews and team - you are very welcome! Hourua is a joint venture between Spark New Zealand and One New Zealand - read more at TechDay New Zealand https://lnkd.in/dk8XneCq

As it’s the busy holiday season, we know our communities will be making the most of the great weather by being out and about across our beautiful region. This also means it’s a busy time for our Clinical Communications Centre team (the reassuring voices at the end of 111 calls) and frontline responders. Whenever we respond, we rely on good communications to ensure our staff are safe and our patients receive the right care at the right time, and in the right location – which isn’t always easy in a region as vast and rugged as ours! To enable this, we’ve recently introduced Public Safety Network SIM cards to all our cellular devices. This means our devices can roam across both Spark and One NZ networks, increasing the coverage and resiliency of our communications. Kate, Head of Emergency Ambulance Services, shares her recent experience using the Public Safety Network Roaming when responding to a patient in a remote location: “We responded to an incident with a Flight Paramedic in the air, and me on the ground, already on the scene via road ambulance. The patient was down a steep culvert, hardly visible from the road. I was able to keep constant phone contact with the team on the heli thanks to the roaming cellular coverage. Before this improved cell coverage in remote locations, we would have had to manually change our radio channels to keep up communications – which takes time, and in an emergency, time and a quick response are incredibly important to give the patient the best chance possible. Having constant and uninterrupted phone comms assisted the ground and aircrew responding, as I was able to call the road crew to my location and direct the helicopter with life-saving equipment to exactly where they were needed.” Find out more about the Public Safety Network at www.ngcc.govt.nz