Contract awarded for supplying rural police stations with satellite units

10/11/99
The Western Australian Police Service is set to become a world leader in satellite delivery of data communication over vast geographical areas, under a contract announced today by Police Minister Kevin Prince.
The contract with 'Westwide', a consortium of Cable & Wireless Optus and Perth technology company AlphaWest, will see satellite units placed in around 88 police stations in rural and remote WA. These will be used to connect country police stations to the Police Service's wide area computer network.
Mr Prince said the contract was part of the Police Service's exciting Delta Communications and Information Technology Project (DCAT). The DCAT project, worth more than $100 million, would result in the installation of state-of-the-art computer and information systems within the Police Service which would enable it to take a technological quantum leap into the next millennium.
"This is not just about computers and telecommunications, but the entire end-to-end business of policing a State which covers an area of 2.5 million sq kms - the largest geographical area covered by any police agency in the world," the Minister said.
"Most importantly, it will make the job of our police officers easier and safer and enable them to deliver a better service to the community."
Police Commissioner Barry Matthews said the Police Service was the first Government agency to sign a customer contract with one of the two telecommunications carriers, under an agreement announced by Deputy Premier Hendy Cowan two weeks ago.
The agreement allows the carriers to compete for Government business to provide more accessible data communications to all parts of the State under the State Telecommunications Enhancement Project (STEP).
"This is certainly a defining moment in the history of the WA Police Service," Mr Matthews said.
"Providing good communications within a State as big as WA is an enormous challenge. However, no longer will our remote areas and country stations be the 'poor relations' when it comes to communication and technology."
As part of the implementation of the new computer network, initial sites targeted for early installation include Toodyay, Northam, Nannup, Pemberton, Mingenew, Wyalkatchem, Leeman, Dowerin, Wickham, Cue, Pannawonica and Ravensthorpe.
Satellites will assist the Police Service in providing high quality data services, tailored to support its current and future information systems requirements.
Mr Prince said that he was pleased that local companies, Hills Industries and Satellite Appliance Sales, would be involved with the installation of the satellite dishes.
Under the Network Infrastructure Upgrade Project, which was part of DCAT, the Police Service was currently providing the organisation with up-to-date computers and equipment.
The network roll-out, due to be completed by the end of 1999, would facilitate access to electronic mail and the new Resource Management Information System, providing increased levels of management of assets, finance and human resources.
The new network would also provide a foundation for the delivery of
State-wide innovative policing information systems, which would have been otherwise unavailable to country areas.
Mr Prince said that once the standardised work stations and network devices were in place, the satellite systems would be progressively switched on. This would commence early in 2000.
Media contacts: Kirsten Stoney, 9220 5000
WA Police Service: Linda Byrne, 9222 1404
Cable & Wireless Optus: Steve Woodhill 02 9342 7850