AU - SATURDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2001 Police, Tait communications to cancel digital radio contract 15 FEBRUARY 2001

Police face another delay in developing a new national radio network as a contract for a system from Christchurch firm Tait Communications is terminated.

The Digital Trunked Radio System (DTRS), ordered for the 1999 Apec conference in Auckland, was to form phase one of a national system.

Tait and British Firm Simoco International won the multi-million dollar contract, and were to supply a Tetra-based (European standard) digital system for Apec that would ensure people with scanners could not listen in to police communications.

However, the system could not be perfected in time for Apec, forcing police to fall back on an alternative Tait-supplied system.

After Apec, police and Tait worked on the system but "performance issues" relating to functionality, hand over times and encryption meant the radios had not been given to front-line officers, police Assistant Commissioner Paul Fitzharris said in a statement.

"With the system now over two years late and the Tetra technology on which it is based still not having reached the expected level of maturity, police are having discussions with Tait Communications to mutually terminate the DTRS contract," Mr Fitzharris said.

"While police are disappointed that the system will not now be the foundation for a national network, we did receive a solution for Apec at a cost of $2.4 million, which was considerably less than Treasury estimates of $5.6 million for leasing such a system, as well as 650 portable radios," he said.

Due to the termination of the contract police were to initiate two new projects – a short-term improvement to the current Auckland radio network, and mapping out the long-term direction of police radio communications.

Police have had a disappointing run in recent years with new technology, the most notable failure being the collapse of the Incis computer project.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,650139a28,FF.html

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2001