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Hong Kong Police today (December 8) announced the official launch of Phase I of the Third Generation Command and Control Communications System (CC3), marking a new era in police communications.
From tomorrow (December 9), the New Territories Regions will be the first to adopt an Internet Protocol (IP) Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA)-based digital communications system.
A Police spokesman said that since the new system was based on a digital two-way radio standard, a more secure environment for police communications would be provided.
The spokesman said that the entire system was designed to improve deployment of police manpower and resources in the on-going efforts to better serve the public.
Phase I launch will put officers in the New Territories at the forefront of police communications in Asia-Pacific. When fully operational, the integrated command and control communications system will consist of five components:
- A digital trunked radio communications system with voice and data capabilities;
- 999 emergency telephone system with automatic emergency caller number and location identification capability;
- A mobile computing system allowing officers to access necessary information from their radio handsets and/or mobile data terminals;
- Automatic vehicle location system (AVLS) that will allow dispatchers to better allocate resources to attend emergency incidents as well as a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will allow the emergency call takers and dispatchers to more quickly and accurately identify the location of emergency incidents and police resources; and
- The third generation command and control computer system (CACCS3) provides high performance, reliable incident handling and dispatching functions, and gateway connection to a number of databases.
"Since CC3 adopts an IP-based TETRA system, it provides an effective and efficient call set up with more reliable routing capabilities," the spokesman said.
"It also enables good voice quality by prioritising voice packets and allows various types of data to be carried in the same IP manner. Security features include encryption and authentication of users to prevent eavesdropping by unauthorised elements," he added.
CC3 supports an integrated command and control environment that includes radio, telephone, incident handling, voice logging, and support for external interfaces to computer systems in selected government departments.
By May, 2005, Hong Kong Island Region will be the next to integrate and adopt CC3 while the third and final Phase of the project will be implemented in Kowloon East and West Regions in January, 2006.
The current Command & Control System (CC2), better known as the beat radio system, has been in operation since 1990, and will remain in place in the regions awaiting the phasing-in of CC3.
Cost of the CC3 project is $540 million which includes a nine-year maintenance contract of the system.
Police Report No. 3
Issued by PPRB
Ends/1630 hours, Wednesday, December 8, 2004 (NR)
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