UK Nationwide Public Safety Critical Communications Network Deal Extended Until End of 2026

A newly published contract notice shows the Home Office has signed deals with Airwave Solutions – now owned by Motorola Solutions – to provide network services police forces and fire and rescue services, with values of £1.33 billion and £141 million respectively.

These are accompanied by contracts with the Department for Health and Social Care, valued at £83.9 million, to support the Ambulance Radio Programme; and with the Scottish Ambulance Service Board at £3.1 million.

It provides a further indication of the need to extend the life of the network due to long delays in the implementation of its replacement, the Emergency Services Network (ESN). Earlier this month the Police Digital Service published a prior information notice deriving from plans to set up a procurement framework for devices and services based on Airwave.

Delayed roll out

The ESN programme has run years late, with the roll out of the network now scheduled for completion in December 2024 against an initial deadline of 2019. It has been criticised by the National Audit Office and Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, with projections that the costs will outweigh the savings until 2029.