The Government Radio Network (GRN), which is wholly owned by the Department of Commerce (Government Chief Information Office), provides the common platform for over 30 government agencies and authorities who use mobile radio communications. The network uses trunking technology to share frequencies amongst users and is one of the largest mobile radio networks of this type in the world. It comprises 102 sites and covers about one-third of NSW, approximately 150,000 square kilometres. It regularly processes over 16 million radio calls per month. The use of the GRN has increased by more than 50% in the last five years.

GRN’s digital network upgrade programme means NSW will have one of the most advanced and largest radio communications networks of its type in the world.

The GRN is a composite analogue/digital trunked radio network, which has been designed using Motorola SmartZone. Currently the Network comprises over 100 individual radio sites, providing mobile coverage for major population centres and over one-third of the state’s geographic area.

The NOCC is the “hub” of the network. It controls and continuously monitors the functions of the network, providing individual service activation, performance monitoring, fault location and service restoration. Support for users is available through a "Help Desk" operating 24hrs a day.

The sites are connected to the network management system (NOCC) by telecommunications links provided by public carriers. The purpose of the GRN is to provide a state wide, whole-of-government radio network that supports emergency, essential service and Agencies operational communication needs.

Key benefits:

• Reduced operating costs achieved by standardising hardware and technology purchases.
• Voice and data information captured in the field, in real-time - field workers will be able to complete their tasks more effectively and management will have access to critical information when they need it 24 x 7.
• Environmental-friendly leading-edge network infrastructure designed to minimise environmental impacts.
• Voice encryption to enable Agencies that required it, to work in a secure environment.
• 24 x 7 urban and rural state emergency service radio communications system.

 As the upgrade programme draws to completion GRN’s Disaster Recover Site (DRS) will move into full testing mode.

 Designed to backup and enhance GRN’s Network Operational Control Centre (NOCC) DRS provides a mirrored preventative backup and support communication system for emergency and essential services throughout NSW.

 After an initial period of operational testing the remote radio transmitter sites will be connected to both the primary Network Operations Control Centre (NOCC) and the Disaster Recovery Site (DRS). The connection of the remote radio sites will be a phased implementation programme with all sites connected by the end of 2007.  The Disaster Recovery Site (DRS) will then be fully capable of replicating the functionality of the prime system in less than 2 hours with no change in the level of service.

For more information on the Government Radio Network.