ntl and EADS Cogent Join Forces in Firelink Bid



Newport, South Wales, -/June 08, 2004 Wi-Fi Technology News/- EADS Cogent, the defence and public safety experts shortlisted to deploy Firelink, the new national communications system for the UK Fire and Rescue Service, has announced that communications specialist ntl is to join its Firelink consortium. ntl has withdrawn its independent bid for Firelink and the consortium will now draw on the service provision expertise of ntl and the TETRAPOL solutions of EADS Cogent.

The Firelink contract, to be awarded later this year by the UK government, will provide the UK Fire and Rescue Service with its first national wide-area radio network by the end of 2007. The EADS Cogent consortium will provide increased resilience for the UK's critical national infrastructure through its TETRAPOL network, ensuring the fire service can respond effectively and efficiently to any threat to national safety and security.


Incorporation into the TETRAPOL consortium represents a significant strategic change for ntl. As the UK's leading independent radio communications service provider, ntl currently provides services to 96 per cent of the brigades of England and Wales and the company has always maintained a position of technology independence. This announcement signals strong support for EADS Cogent's TETRAPOL technology and ntl's independent assessment of its suitability for the UK Fire and Rescue Service operations.


EADS Cogent invited ntl to join its Firelink consortium in recognition of ntl's experience in radio communications technology and operational knowledge of the Fire and Rescue Service. ntl was awarded a national programme of upgrades for the existing Fire and Rescue Service legacy systems, known as OpCon (Operational Continuity) by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, pending the implementation of the new Firelink national system.


David Barrow, business development director, government and civil solutions, for EADS Cogent, said: "We are delighted to confirm ntl as our key service partner for the implementation and support of the TETRAPOL Firelink network. ntl's expertise and practical understanding of the existing Fire and Rescue Service systems will ensure a smooth transition to the new digital technology.


"Proven seamless interoperability with existing emergency services means the implementation of a TETRAPOL national network will provide the resilience and security in communications that the UK currently lacks."

Kathryn Hobson, ntl's business strategy manager for public safety, said: "ntl has demonstrated full capability in managing a national radio communications programme; our activity on OpCon is already being rolled-out successfully without disrupting the operational performance of the brigades. We have established resources and processes, on a nationwide basis, that we believe will be pivotal for the brigades as they migrate to the new technology. Our partnership with EADS Cogent for the TETRAPOL Firelink project can help to ensure the smooth and efficient implementation of a significant change programme."


TETRAPOL is the world's most widely deployed professional digital mobile communications standard, with over 80 wide area systems deployed in 34 countries. Tetrapol's standardised end-to-end encryption, combined with inbuilt security, provides the highest possible level of protection for voice and data communications.


With over 70 per cent of the digital European PMR market share, TETRAPOL is the only radio communications solution that has consistently proved its reliability and efficiency in high security deployments. Nationwide TETRAPOL networks can be found in Spain, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, Romania, Singapore and Mexico, where the IRIS network is the largest PMR network in the world.


About Cogent
Cogent Defence and Security Networks Limited, is the UK unit of EADS Defence and Communication Systems and the System House for EADS in the UK.

Web site: http://www.cogent-dsn.com


About EADS Defence and Communication Systems
EADS Defence and Communication Systems (DCS) is part of the Defence and Security Systems division of EADS. DCS has been created in order to better respond to the new evolution of the defence markets, which are more focused on global solutions and integrated systems. For this purpose, DCS regroups several defence activities with the telecommunications activities of EADS. Its field of competence encompasses manned and unmanned systems such as tactical and strategic UAVs, manned mission aircraft, Command, Control, Communication Information systems (C3I), Air and Naval Defence, Public Safety including Homeland Security and Communication and Information Network. DCS as the EADS System House implements advanced defence concepts, simulation and experimentation tools like NETCOS.

Web site: http://www.eads.net


About EADS:
EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, is a global aerospace and defence company, and is the world?s second largest in terms of revenues, having achieved ? 29.9 billion in 2002. EADS maintains a workforce of more than 104,000 and is a market leader in defence technologies, commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft, as well as related services. Its family of leading brands includes the commercial aircraft maker Airbus; Eurocopter, the world's largest helicopter manufacturer; EADS Astrium, the space company and MBDA, the world's second largest missile company. EADS is also the biggest partner in the Eurofighter consortium and heads the A400M military transport aircraft programme. EADS has more than 70 facilities in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. It is active in markets around the world, including the U.S., Russia and Asia.


Web site: http://www.eads.net

About ntl?s Broadcast division:

? The Broadcast division of ntl has a 48-year history in transmission and has helped pioneer the technologies of the digital age.

? ntl?s Public Safety group provides a full range of support services to the UK police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services including design and installation of integrated telecommunications systems, radio system maintenance and fully managed services.

? With a portfolio of over 2300 radio sites across the UK, ntl?s Wireless Solutions group specialises in shared mobile and cellular network infrastructure, from conventional masts and towers, urban and in-building solutions to access circuits, managed back-haul and core network provision.

? 22 million UK homes receive ITV, Channel 4 and Five via ntl?s national broadcast transmitter networks. ntl also provides transmission for most UK independent radio stations, both analogue and digital.

? ntl provides end-to-end media solutions to the broadcast industry across terrestrial, cable and satellite platforms. This includes satellite uplinking, satellite newsgathering, outside broadcast facilities, programme presentation, play-out and distribution.