Africa Business Communities

SAPS awards Emcom Wireless three-year contract

South Africa-based Emcom Wireless has been awarded a three-year contract for radio network equipment deployment by the South African Police Service.

With over 43 years' experience in the mission-critical radio communications industry, Emcom will assist SAPS in the co-ordinated planning and roll-out of network elements is order to enhance SAPS radio communications coverage across South Africa, including facilitating the ability to provide dedicated IP services to remote police stations and border posts.

"We are pleased that our experience and track record in mission-critical public safety solutions has once again been recognised by the SAPS, including our dedication to empowering the customer through real-time skills transfer" said Tony Sipho Sibanda, Emcom's Director for Business Development, who signed the new contract in Pretoria on 15 September.

Newly appointed Chief Technology Officer for Emcom, Stefan Skarabis, with many years' experience in designing and implementing mission-critical networks across Africa, explained some of the technical aspects of the award:

"The 4-13Ghz microwave radios and 400Mhz MiMoMx technology will enable inter-linking of the various radio repeater sites situated across the country. Current radio repeater systems will be upgraded and migrated to wide area simulcast, thus ensuring cost-effective, seamless wide area coverage for voice communications, utilising existing spectrum allocation.

In simple terms, a bespoke, secure internal network, without having to rely on paying third-party network operators to carry traffic is a more efficient, a more secure and a more cost-effective manner in which to manage police operations. Remote stations and regions will finally have access to information management (IM) services in order to share digital information as well as to communicate and co-ordinate police operations."

Emcom has aligned strategic partnerships with technology manufacturers, Aviat Singapore, MiMoMax of New Zealand and Tait Communications of New Zealand for radio hardware. EMCOM engineering will collaborate with SAPS in the design planning of critical networks and Emcom technicians will configure, deploy, support and provide training and mentorships to young SAPS technicians.

Managing Director of Emcom, George Spencer, added: "We have proven ourselves as a tried and tested solutions provider that goes the extra mile in order to intimately understand user operational requirements. Emcom's capability includes the ability to locally support multi-disciplined technical integration of various communications technologies such that we deliver reliable, sustainable, cost-effective solutions suitable for Africa." He says.

"It's very easy to buy a box based upon cheapest price, but to integrate a few different boxes in a sustainable, credible solution requires experience gained from the University of Life," says Spencer.

Emcom currently manages the maintenance of the KZN and Mpumalanga SAPS radio networks, and was recently awarded a three-year as-and-when analogue SAPS mobile radio supply contract.

Emcom Wireless is critical communications sponsor to the Bloodhound SSC and Sharks Rugby, and includes partners, LIV Village and the Paramount Group.

www.emcom.co.za

 

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