Public Safety Communications Wins Gold at Island Games

Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) provided enhanced operational and public safety communications to Jersey 2015, the XVI Island Games. The company extended support from the island of Jersey’s Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) network to more than 200 organizers and 400 volunteer ‘Games Makers’ who assisted the Island Games events.

The most important event of the year for Jersey, the Island Games attracted thousands of visitors to support young sportsmen and women from 24 smaller islands communities such as Rhodes, Greenland, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Menorca, Froya, Gotland, Gibraltar, Guernsey and Jersey, competing in events at an international level. This year more than 3,000 athletes took part in more than 900 events, encompassing 14 sports at more than 13 separate venues, with more than 1,500 medals being awarded.

From archery to volleyball, cycling to sailing, the wide range of sports created a demanding challenge for the games committee, where dependable communications were critical to the success of this unique competition.

“The Jersey 2015 Games required a reliable operational communications network for the organizers that can also be accessed by police, fire and ambulance,” said Phil Jefferson, vice president Northern Europe, Motorola Solutions. “The existing public safety TETRA radio network, used by the emergency services and Island agencies, was specially extended to encompass the volunteer Games Makers.”

Motorola Solutions donated tough, reliable TETRA MTH800 two-way radios and multi-unit battery chargers to the Island of Jersey to equip the Games Makers with dependable communications to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for the attending islanders and approximately 5,000 visiting fans.

Operating on their own distinct radio channel with integration delivered by Motorola Solutions, the Games Makers could be instantly located anywhere around the Island. Radio calls were also monitored by emergency services for rapid response, with a select talk group established to enable the games committee to communicate directly with the emergency services when necessary.

“The technical excellence from Motorola Solutions has provided our Games Makers with a robust, easy to understand and use communications network that links events and organizers around the Island. This was Jersey’s Olympics and we were very pleased to receive this unparalleled communications support for such an important event,” said Steve Bailey, games director, Jersey 2015.

Jersey’s TETRA public safety communications network connects the Island’s emergency services. It is also accessed by a wide range of agencies and organizations including parking control, harbors, customs, prison, honorary police officers and parish halls. In addition to the Games Makers’ radios, the Island currently deploys more than 1,300 Motorola Solutions portable and mobile radios on the TETRA network.

For more information on the Island Games visit: www.jersey2015.com

Photo: courtesey of the Island Games