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SAPS awards five-year wireless contract

SAPS has awarded Emcom Wireless with a five-year contract for 4-13 GHz microwave radio, radio system peripherals and equipment and MiMoMax (400-900 MHz) technology.

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,” says Tony Sipho Sibanda, Emcom’s director for business development.

Newly appointed chief technology officer for Emcom, Stefan Skarabis, who has many years’ experience in designing and implementing mission-critical networks across Africa, says the 4-13 GHz Microwave Radios and 400 MHz MiMoMx technology that Emcom will supply 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,” says Skarabis.

“In simple terms it means the SAPS will have a bespoke, secure internal network that will allow the SAPS the freedom of not having to pay or rely on third-party network operators to carry traffic. The network will also provide a more efficient, more secure and more cost effective manner in which to manage police operations.”

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.

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