NSW Telco Authority is supporting the Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) to enhance bushfire responses with new firefighting tankers and upgrading satellite technology to ensure crews remain safer and more connected during emergencies.
A $69 million investment over three years will provide the catalyst for the extensive rollout of Vehicle as a Node (VaaN) technology for the NSW RFS to ensure personnel can communicate in remote areas or if critical communications infrastructure is damaged.
Installations of the technology using Starlink satellites will begin this year to retrofit more than 5,000 RFS operational vehicles across the state with tankers being deployed to regional areas in preparation for the upcoming bushfire season.
In the past year, 143 new and 69 refurbished tankers were delivered to NSW RFS, with upgrades including improved safety features such as halo sprinkler systems for the cabin, custom-fitted heat curtains, electric hose reels and portable Public Safety Network and fireground radio chargers.
The upgrades will enable video live streaming of fires across the state and allow the use of radios, mobile phones and other devices to remain online. It will also provide an important backup to communication systems and location-finding technology already in use.
For more information, please read media release issued by NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Minister for Digital Services and Emergency Services, Jihad Dib.
