New Zealand launches cellular network visibility tool for emergency services
Platform combines data from NZ's top mobile network providers.
"This new service is going to be a game changer."
Those were the words of Police Minister Mark Mitchell when New Zealand introduced a new cellular network visibility service as part of the country's Public Safety Network (PSN).
The cellular network visibility tool combines data from Spark and One NZ, two of the biggest mobile network providers in New Zealand, onto a platform used by emergency services.
Explaining how it works, the minister said: "It will show our emergency operations centres and planners when and where their operations will be impacted by network outages so they can plan around it.
"This will be particularly useful for planning operations in extreme weather events we will continue to experience in New Zealand."
The tool not only provides near real-time network coverage and outage information but also shows any planned outages in the next two weeks.
The PSN is led by Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC), a cross-agency entity that advises the NZ government on critical communications for public safety.
"We congratulate Spark and One NZ and thank them for their work to deliver this third cellular service on time and on budget in the interests of public safety," commented NGCC Director Steve Ferguson, whose camp previously rolled out PSN Cellular Roaming and PSN Cellular Priority Services.
The third service, which was developed for NGCC by Spark and One NZ's joint venture Hourua, is believed to be a world-first in terms of combining coverage information from competing providers.
Mitchell added: "The service proved its worth during a trial earlier this year when Cyclone Tam caused large network outages across Northland.
"Fire and Emergency New Zealand was able to see immediately what impact the network outages would have on their ability to alert and mobilise local volunteers through their app and put in a work-around to communicate with them."
