Melbourne: A Melbourne telecommunications company has won the world's most prestigious critical communications award in a highly-anticipated ceremony this week in Madrid.
The 2021 International Critical Communications Awards is the most coveted recognition of critical communications excellence globally, celebrating the success of products, organisations and individuals that have pushed boundaries and capabilities within the field.
MCS Digital took out the top prize in the Best Use of Critical Communications in Transport for its work on a major metropolitan transportation project.
MCS Digital's Managing Director, Jane Perton, describes the award as the proudest moment of her 28 years with the company.
"MCS Digital has a proud history spanning more than 40 years and has evolved from its deployment of simple radio systems to delivering complex mission-critical communications solutions," Perton says.
"To be recognised on the International stage for the successful delivery of a world-class project in the critical communications space is truly gratifying. This award is a wonderful recognition of the efforts of the MCS Digital team and our partners PowerTrunk in the US and Teltronic in Spain. I am so proud of the team, and it was a truly global effort."
The awards are an international-quality designation judged by a professional jury headed by The Critical Communications Association (TCCA), the worldwide authority in the field of critical communications.
Organisers say the standard of entries in this year's awards was extraordinarily high, with some of the biggest names in the field submitting their most cutting-edge products and successful roll outs. Other companies in the running for awards included Motorola Solutions, Hytera and NEC Software Solutions.
MCS Digital's Chief Operating Officer, Ali Shams, says it was an honour to have the opportunity to lead the successful implementation of such a ground-breaking project in Australia.
"Critical voice and data communications underpin the safe and efficient operations of many vital services around the world, and to deliver a system which will serve the Australian community for decades to come has been very rewarding," Shams says.
"More than just a straightforward implementation of a voice communication network, a complex system design was required including many custom complex interfaces in order to provide a seamless user experience for the effective operation of the transport system."
MCS Digital's Chairman, Brendan Fleiter, says the international award "will help further reinforce the Victorian Government's goal of positioning Melbourne as the destination of choice for technology-focused companies seeking an Australian base".
Last year's Victorian State budget allocated $12 million towards the development of a tech hub in the nearby Melbourne suburb of Cremorne, which is already home to tech giants such as SEEK, REA Group and MYOB.
Perton says MCS Digital, already at the forefront of critical communication systems, is working on leveraging its experience and knowledge into future projects, particularly in Victoria.
"The award showcases the innovative position of Australia on the international playing field of critical communication," she says. "As a company, we're continuing our evolution and are set to launch a new phase of products which will bring new features and flexibility to our critical communications offerings.
"We've been awarded the next phase of the current project, and are looking forward to providing broader services to Victoria's infrastructure and metropolitan transport landscape."
This year's ICCA ceremony took place at the Casino de Madrid in the Spanish capital as part of the annual TCCA Critical Communications World (CCW) 2021 conference and exhibition event.
Organisers say the three-day exhibition attracts the most important thought leaders in the global critical communications sector. This year, participants included some of the biggest technology manufacturers in the world, eager to do business face-to-face after two years away.
Event spokesman Tim Willoughby says the CCW offers a unique chance for the critical communications industry to come together to recognise the best work taking place globally.
"Pandemic or no pandemic, the last 12 months have seen some extraordinary innovations, as well as numerous high-profile, high-pressure roll outs," Willoughby says.
———
