The Home Office is to spend £39m to expand coverage
of
Airwave, the radio communication system used
by the police and other emergency services, in the run-up to the
2012 Olympics in London.
The
contract will increase the system's capacity to handle
thousands more users from within police, fire and ambulance
services, the Home Office said.
Airwave
said in January it would build a new, independent £10m
communications infrastructure for Olympic officials, using Tetra
digital radio technology. This network would provide coverage for
the London venues as well as satellite venues such as Weymouth and
Hampden Park.
Security minister Lord West said the Home Office's investment in
the Airwave system underlined its commitment to a safe and secure
games. "Investing now means the Airwave network system can be
thoroughly tested before 2012 and will ensure it remains resilient
during the Games," he said.
The Chief Constable at the
National Policing Improvement
Agency, Peter Neyroud, said joint communication between police,
fire and ambulance services, together with Airwave in the London
Underground, would provide robust support to help ensure a swift
and co-ordinated response to any incident.