Steve Ferguson: Next Generation Critical Communications Director on the revamping of emergency service communication

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

There are hopes a revamp of emergency service communication will streamline responses.

Five hundred radio towers and 15 thousand units for first responders are being switched out to make way for a new digital, and encrypted, radio communication system.

Politicians and experts say the current analogue system is deteriorating and needs to be replaced.

Next Generation Critical Communications Director Steve Ferguson told Ryan Bridge it's worked well, but it's time to move on.

He says a digital system will mean better co-ordination between Police, Fire and Emergency, and ambulance services.

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