Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service
A different approach to emergency communications.
When Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service needed a new
way to connect the county’s fire stations, it was clear that a
cost-effective, yet uncompromisingly resilient, solution was
required.
The Service wanted a single high-speed network that could add
resilience to both 999 and non-emergency calls, and additionally
provide a fast, reliable administrative infrastructure across all
its fire stations.
Working in partnership with MLL Telecom, we deployed a
sophisticated licensed microwave radio link between the Service’s
headquarters and ntl:Telewest Business. By integrating the flexible
MLL radio service to connect the headquarter’s site into our
managed network, each of the 82 stations in Devon and Somerset –
with which the Service has merged – has access to cost-effective
and highly reliable network services, such as our Internet Protocol
Virtual Private Network (IPVPN) and Managed Internet Access
offerings.
Optimising Licensed Radio (microwave) technology
To run such a critical service for Devon’s one million plus
residents it was vital that the Devon Fire & Rescue Service
maintained a totally resilient network infrastructure. By adding
this innovative wireless radio link from MLL Telecom to form part
of our overall IPVPN solution, it gave the physical diversity
that
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service wanted. This added
resilience crucially gave them the reassurance they needed to
confidently mobilise appliances across this network throughout
Devon and Somerset. Andrew Biddlecombe, Senior Product Manager
IPVPN at ntl:Telewest Business, comments, “MLL is an approved
product supplier to ntl:Telewest Business, being our partner of
choice for wireless last mile solutions.”
A different approach to solution design
As the geography of the region would make installation of a
fibre network complex and time consuming, our engineers had to
consider a different approach. Remaining focused on delivering the
best solution for the Service’s
precise requirements, our team proposed a radio link. This
sophisticated technology, recommended and delivered by our partner
MLL Telecom, was able to function in perfect harmony with our own
to give Devon Fire & Rescue Service a cost-effective result in
a short space of time. This combined solution now provides a
completely assured and diverse route from the fire service’s
existing connections, and gives the essential secondary resilience
needed to back up 999 calls. Beginning with a successful pilot, and
moving onto a phased
implementation across all of Devon’s fire stations, the radio and
IPVPN installation went without a hitch. Tony Sercombe, ICT Manager
at Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, confirms, “The
new network was introduced smoothly by ntl:Telewest Business, on
time and within budget, without interrupting our operations.”
Introducing technology to mobilise fire engines
Having a robust infrastructure spanning every fire station in
Devon ensures that emergency 999 calls are now fully backed up on a
totally separate route. And, as well as handling all other calls,
the high-speed network also runs a new application that despatches
fire engines to emergency call outs. In the past, expensive, and
rarely used individual wire connections handled this process. Now,
specialist software running on the network makes up-to-the-minute
information available to the control room, detailing incidents in
progress and
enabling staff to mobilise and monitor fire engines more quickly
and efficiently.
Furthermore, following the merger with the Somerset Fire
Service, both counties can now take full advantage of a 10Mbps
Managed Internet Access connection for all their IT needs. Every
fire station, administration centre and the combined Service’s HQ
are linked – allowing documents to be held and accessed
centrally, and ensuring that procedural and training documents are
standardised right across the Service. “We now easily communicate
with the public using our website, and quickly answer queries on
fire safety matters by email,” Tony explains. “The network
also handles many administrative applications, such as financial
programmes and presentation software, whilst high-speed email gives
us more efficient internal communications.”
Higher speed, reduced costs
One of the key benefits of the leading edge solution is clearly
cost savings. Nigel Loveland, Account Manager at ntl:Telewest
Business, comments, “Working together with MLL Telecom enabled us
to create a bespoke, cost-effective solution that fully met the
needs of the Service.” Tony adds, “With the new network handling
all our admin at a high speed, and additionally mobilising our fire
engines, we’ve been able to combine operationally critical tasks
and simultaneously cut costs. The partnership between ntl:Telewest
Business and MLL Telecom has provided us with a real win- win
situation, giving us excellent value for money and a highly robust
solution.” Also vital to the project was our strong, long-term
relationship with the Service. Nigel explains, “We work well as a
partnership, and are very open and honest with each other.” Tony
concludes, “We have a very good relationship with ntl:Telewest
Business – everything’s always handled quickly and
efficiently.”
What it has made possible
Our solution was designed to deliver a cost-effective and
future-proof network, able to grow and change as required. This
scalability was proved when the Devon Service joined forces with
Somerset shortly after the initial installation, and we merged all
of Somerset’s stations seamlessly into the network
within just two months. There are now over 2,000 users on the
network, spread over 90 sites. In addition to the critical
emergency call back up, each site has fast, accessible IT access,
handling a range of functions and providing continuity across all
82 fire stations plus support offices in Devon and Somerset. Tony’s
now looking forward to our Next Generation Network’s future
potential, “We’re looking to increase the services we run on the
network, including adding Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for
internal and external calls. We’re also planning to use the system
to enable home working, to offer our administrative staff more
flexible working arrangements into the future.”
Telecoms 2.0
Next Generation Networks have enormous potential to transform
business. We should know: we have the UK’s only national Next
Generation Network; one that powers mission-critical services for
some of the UK’s most demanding customers. But Next Generation
Networks need to be matched with a new kind of telco mindset, one
that’s also next generation and is defined by an open,
collaborative, can-do culture. These twin strands of
technological capability and service-centric mindset form the DNA
of a new kind of business telco. Say hello to Telecoms 2.0.
