£390m ambulance radio upgrade rollout begins

A new £390m ambulance radio system will improve communications with other emergency services and minimise the risk of interference with vital medical equipment.

.Tetra radios are to be installed in rapid response vehicles and motorcycles as well as ambulances.

Work on the overall programme is "already well underway" with the rollout of the radio system to all NHS Ambulance Trusts in England to begin early in 2007 and to be completed by September 2008.

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Over 18,000 Tetra radio terminals will be installed, which the Department of Health (D0H) said is the largest single deployment of Tetra radios anywhere in the world for an emergency response service.

The DoH signed a 13-year contract worth £390m in July 2005 with Airwave - owned by mobile operator O2 - to provide the new digital radio and communications system. This includes vehicle-based radios, lightweight hand-held radios and new equipment in control rooms. It said the system offers interoperability between emergency services' radio systems and better coverage in rural areas.

Health Minister Lord Warner said digital technology means a more secure system, with less interference and improved interoperability between trusts and the other emergency services.

The radio terminals provided by Sepura will operate on the Airwave network and work with control room equipment provided by Sungard Vivista, as part of Airwave's Ambulance Radio Replacement Programme contract.

Police forces have been using Tetra radios since 2005 and earlier this year the Fire service signed a £350m deal to roll it out.