New emergency communications system for Los Angeles

The emergency services agencies in Los Angeles will now be able to communicate directly with each other thanks to a new emergency data communications system.

“For the first time, local, state and federal emergency services agencies shared voice and data communications directly with each other, and the system functioned flawlessly,” said Pat Mallon, executive director of the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS).

The fallback network for the LA-RICS system was the Tactical Communications Unit (TCU), which was the combined knowledge of NVIS Communications, Barrett Communications, Star Solutions and Pepro LLC. The TCU provides a fallback network node for short-, medium- and long-distance communication reach and cross service reach for voice and data, in the event of a natural or manmade disaster.

The self-contained TCU is highly mobile and can be set up and operated by a single person. The EMP hardened shelter encloses the TCU and the unit is self-powered with a 4-day-capacity diesel generator together with solar panels and backup batteries. The TCU has the short network capacity for 1000 registered handsets and 100 co-current sessions. The medium and long range network incorporates P25, cellular, UHF, VHF connections and the ability to operate two simultaneous independent HF networks.

The LA-RICS system brings together multiple vendors including Motorola Solutions Inc.; BlackHawk Imaging; Sonim Technology; Intrepid Networks; ESChat by SLA Corporation; NVIS Communications; Barrett Communications; Star Solutions International Inc.; Pepro LLC.; Cannon Cameras; Airship; Airwave Communications; and Milestone Video Management Systems.

“The TCU has been developed as a real solution for backup voice and data communications. We are seeing more and more government organisations identifying the need for a system that is highly mobile and quick and easy to set up in the background to maintain communications in the event of a disaster; it’s the safety net to FirstNet.” John Rosica, president of NVIS Communications, the Barrett Communications system integrator in the United States, said.