Public Safety Network preparing to launch new cellular roaming service

The first of the Public Safety Network’s deliverables – a new cellular roaming service – is set to go live next month.

The Public Safety Network (PSN) is a new critical communications service connecting New Zealand’s frontline emergency responders via cellular, land mobile radio (LMR) and personal alerting technology, enabling us to work together more effectively at emergency incidents.

PSN will deliver a single nationwide secure digital radio service and prioritised cellular capability across New Zealand, connect our frontline emergency services, and enable us to work more effectively together at emergency incidents.

It will replace ageing networks with a modern digital capability that provides better access to data, and will provide better situational awareness at incidents, enabling proactive management and mobilisation of emergency services staff, volunteers, and resources.

Fire and Emergency, Police, St John, and Wellington Free Ambulance will be the network’s first users and there is scope for other government agencies to join in the future.

There has been a lot of work behind the scenes as PSN heads towards launching the new cellular roaming service in July, which will mean ours and other emergency services’ phones and devices will be able to use both Spark and One NZ (formerly Vodafone) mobile networks. Once this service is live, we will begin migrating our phones and devices onto the PSN so we can use cellular roaming. 

You can read more on this and what is coming up in the latest Project update on the Portal.