Towards the end of the 1980s, a number of issues began arising affecting the ability of Government agencies to effectively provide their own radio communications infrastructure.

Firstly, the tightening of NSW Government fiscal policy combined with the increasing costs of advanced radio technology meant that NSW Agency’s communication platforms were becoming obsolete without any ease of replacement.

Secondly, the growing public and commercial demand for mobile and wireless communications led to radio spectrum congestion and cross-network interference – a problem prevalent in the highly populated areas of NSW, and therefore a problem for the NSW Government Agencies that serviced them.

These compelling events were crucial in influencing the NSW Government in their selection of trunked mobile radio technology. A single government radio infrastructure would provide significant whole-of-Government cost reductions, conserve spectrum, and allow all Agencies to access new technology while concentrating on their core business.

The benefits of this process were:

• Different Agency networks consolidated into a single, modern platform
• On-demand and/or pre-programmed Agency interoperability
• Enhanced functionality
• Predictable budgeting
• Regional development