Request for Information - Industry engagement on Public Safety Mobile Broadband program

⁠⁠⁠Public Safety Mobile Broadband (PSMB) will deliver a mobile broadband capability to help emergency service organisations (ESOs) communicate more easily with one another and across organisational and geographical boundaries, helping to keep people safe right across Australia.

The PSMB will represent a step change in how ESOs currently consume mobile data by enabling them to more broadly operationalise the use of data in the field once it is made available as a mission critical resource. PSMB will allow ESOs to make greater use of emerging technologies and data-heavy applications like live streaming from body cameras, personal location tracking and bush fire monitoring drones enabling faster decision making and coordination of emergency responses.

Objectives of PSMB are:

•To provide public safety agencies in Australia with ‘mission critical’ voice and data services, with guaranteed levels of reliability in an emergency.

•To create improved communications for public safety agencies across geographical and organisational boundaries.

•To provide ESOs with a national telecommunications capability that will support current voice and data needs and provide the foundation for emerging technologies.

•Delivering PSMB is a recommendation from both the NSW Bushfire Inquiry and the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements

NSW Telco Authority is managing a PSMB proof-of-concept trial to help develop and test technologies on behalf of all Australian states, territories and the Commonwealth. The proof-of-concept trial runs from May 2021 until August 2022. The findings of this trial will help shape the design of the national PSMB.

As part of the PSMB Strategic Roadmap, Workstream 3 – PSMB Financial and Business Case, the National PSMB Program is releasing this RFI, the purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to invite potential and interested suppliers for workshops to:

1.Inform the market on the latest status of the PSMB

2.Seek further market intelligence to inform NSW and the National PSMB program and add to the knowledge that is available to Government.

This RFI does not create any representation, either express or implied, that:

•any tender or procurement process will proceed; or

•if a tender or procurement process does proceed, that the participant’s tender or other form of application (if any) will be given any preference or special consideration.

Respondents are still required to follow any tender or procurement process that may take place. This RFI does not indicate a commitment to any course of action.