The Ontario government announced that it has selected Bell Mobility to rebuild core components of the province’s aging Public Safety Radio Network (PSRN). The $765 million agreement to reconstruct core infrastructure, replace outdated equipment and maintain the new radio network will help keep communities safe.

“In a crisis, every second counts. Replacing our aging emergency radio network is not only vital to public safety, it’s long overdue,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Working with our chosen vendors, we’re confident this investment will give our first responders on the frontlines access to a reliable, cutting-edge network, so they can do their jobs and keep our families and communities safe.”

Under this project, Bell Mobility will:

  • Build the Land Mobile Radio Network — the network’s core infrastructure — as well as support antennas, servers and data centre equipment, which together will provide essential public safety radio coverage across the province;
  • Provide first responders, as well as their dispatchers, with state-of-the-art radio equipment and consoles that enable quick and effective responses in emergency situations; and
  • Provide network and radio equipment maintenance services for a period of 15 years.

“Ontario’s frontline and first responders rely on one of North America’s largest and most complex public safety radio networks to protect people in the face of emergencies,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “By rehabilitating and advancing the province’s radio network, we can improve connectivity and prevent daily service outages that obstruct frontline and emergency responders and put public safety at risk.”

This modernization project will ensure Ontario’s more than 38,000 frontline and emergency responders — including OPP officers, paramedics and hospital staff, forest fire services, provincial highway maintenance staff, as well as parks, enforcement and correctional officers — can count on the communications infrastructure, network, and equipment they need when responding to emergencies.

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Transition to the new network will begin in 2021 and is targeted to be fully operational by June 2023.

Ontario’s PSRN is one of the largest and most complex public safety radio networks in North America.

The PSRN was last replaced in 1998. The current network is outdated and does not meet the North American open standard for public safety radio set in 2001.

A total of six different procurements are being carried out to support this project.

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