Exploring the Future of Fire Services with Airbus SAFEcommand

At the conference, my team and I hosted a presentation that focused on helping services to navigate the uncertain terrain of improving connectivity under these pressures. I am always pleased to see one of Panasonic’s seven principles, contributing to society, shining brightest at these events. TOUGHBOOK’s long-standing relationship with fire and other emergency services customers allow us to provide fit-for-purpose, flexible solutions that support them in helping the public each day. 

Airwave and ESN accreditations ensure that mobile devices can operate on the Tetra network and ensures they will meet the base level of the ESN, allowing decision makers to trust in their investments regardless of future connectivity rollouts. Likewise, services are increasingly turning to multi-bearer sims to provide fire ground coverage whilst maintain flexibility and low costs.  

At TOUGHBOOK, we understand the importance of meeting the connectivity needs of our emergency services customers and our partnerships allow us to bring complete solutions driven by experts. With the specific pressures they face, our fire customers often witness the power of these partnerships first-hand. Norfolk Fire and Rescue service is a prime example of the total solution approach in action: using Panasonic TOUGHBOOK tablets as Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs), response vehicles have access to reliable LTE and 5G connections through Cradlepoint’s NetCloud Service and IBR1700 Series wireless routers. Not only does this bring the additional control of multi-bearer connectivity, connecting the Norfolk unit with EE and Vodafone, it also allows users to join nationwide public safety networks such as the upcoming ESN. 

In offering these provisions, as well as building each TOUGHBOOK device with its own internal optimised modems and antennas to account for 4G on any key bearer, we ensure we cover and support fire users as they make the best choices for their individual units with solutions that are tried, tested, and approved. 

Information sharing in particular has been a big focus of fire software, and forums like SAFEcommand enable software providers to hear and meet the on-the-ground priorities of their customers as they evolve. The ability to share data at an incident - documents such as construction plans, risk data, COSH information - can support fire crews in making life-critical decisions. 

Our devices alone cannot meet the exacting needs of the fire sector, and our long-standing collaborations with credible software partners and our customers themselves ensures that we can continue to support fire services in delivering operational excellence each day.