The NSW Government has delivered 150 new Public Safety Network radio sites to increase operational and mission-critical communications coverage for first responders across the state, including those at Canowindra and Oberon.
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Through the Critical Communications Enhancement Program, the government is investing more than $1.3 billion in total across the biggest infrastructure investment of its kind in a generation, with new sites delivered in May and June.
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The Public Safety Network is Australia's most-critical communications system outside of the Triple Zero emergency hotline and the CCEP has helped expand it to cover 41 per cent of the state, area wise, with 94 per cent of the population covered too.
Along with the two in the Central West, new sites have also been delivered in areas like Maitland, The Entrance, Burringbar, Helensburgh and Ingleburn, along with eight others across NSW.
"This significant achievement brings us closer to delivering the NSW Government's commitment to build a single, integrated radio network to enhance critical communications coverage for the state's emergency services," NSW Telco Authority Acting Managing Director Kristie Clarke said.
"This is technology that saves lives. The PSN will consolidate multiple separate agency radio networks into one network, allowing critical communications to occur across a resilient and efficient network."
Ms Clarke said the Primary Safety Network sites are crucial in protecting communities and supporting the Rural Fire Service, Police, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance, and the State Emergency Service during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires and March 2021 floods.
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