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Wireless radio communication: A file picture of the latest wireless communication system ’Tetra’.

Rahul Wadke

Mumbai, April 3

Despite its status as the country’s financial capital, Mumbai has shown time and again how vulnerable it can be. During these times, be it floods or terror attacks, the need of the hour is constant communication and this is where terrestrial trunked radio, or Tetra, comes in handy.

This is an advanced digital wireless radio communications system used by safety services, utilities, transport authorities and armed forces across the world.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) now plans to install Tetra across the city. It had invited tenders and TCS emerged top with a Rs 97-crore bid. This cannot be made public because MCGM is bound by the election code of conduct. Top sources said it has now written to the State Government seeking special permission to declare the winner.

MCGM will become the first public body in city to install Tetra which can carry data and voice communication. The MCGM will install 20 base stations in the city.

According to a Government official, when disaster strikes, the field officers of MCGM and other allied services can still talk to each other using special handsets connected to the system. These can work both as walkie talkies and mobiles. The officers can make calls using functional telephone networks and deploy resources or manpower where it is urgently needed.

The handsets will be able to access all communication platforms such as VHF, UHF, mobile and landlines unlike conventional walkie talkies which only allow the user to talk or listen to the conversation. They have battery back-up of 12 hours.

With the system, Mayor, Municipal Commissioner, Chief Fire Officer, Chief Officer (Disaster Management), emergency medical response teams, ambulances, blood banks and other agencies such as police, BEST, traffic police, the Government of Maharashtra, Army, and Navy would be connected.

The official said 500 handsets would be procured in the first phase. The current system can accommodate 10,000 users at one time. Hardware and software from different vendors can be seamlessly integrated to build the system.

MCGM will also use it for various data applications such as SAP, SCADA etc. Data from its automatic weather system will also be gathered using the system.

It is also planning to install biometric readers at its headquarters for access control. In the event of a terror attack, the management will be in a position to know the exact headcount of the staff present in the building.

Ham radio operator and digital entrepreneur, Mr Ankur Puranik, said that Tetra is more secure and only allows specific users to access the system. This is in sharp contrast to regular VHF communication where it is possible to tune in to a conversation.

More Stories on : New Business | Maharashtra | Tata Consultancy Services Ltd

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