WFP Information and Communication Technology

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WFP Information and Communication Technology
VHF/UHF Digital Radio Project for Security
Communications
WGET Geneva, July 2007
Robert Kasca ICT Emergency Preparedness and
Response Branch WFP Rome robert.kasca_at_wfp.org
Mob 39 340 574 3870
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WFP Information and Communication Technology

• Why change existing VHF/UHF radio standard?
• User dissatisfaction
• Limited functionality
• Bulky equipment
• Ageing technology
• Current radio almost exclusively used for
  security purposes, hence a more operationally
  oriented tool required.

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WFP Information and Communication Technology

• How When?
• WFP started with the project in early 2006
• Document with minimum desirable mandatory
  requirements circulated at the end of 2006
• Brief on Digital Radio Research.doc
• Market analysis on available systems conducted in
  first quarter of 2007 (P25, TETRA/TETRAFLEX, GSM,
  DMR)
• Identification of the possible solution
  (MotoTrbo)
• Motorola UHF system installed at Rome HQ for
  testing purposes in February 2007 (still in use)
• MotoTrbo Compliancy.pdf

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WFP Information and Communication Technology

• Results of user/field test
• Expanded usable coverage
• Better audio quality
• Very positive user feedback on the functionality
  and user friendliness
• Programming simplicity
• Back-to-back compatibility with analogue systems

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WFP Information and Communication Technology

• Where do we go next?
• Continue to use the UHF system installed at Rome
  HQ
• Install VHF test systems as part of Emergency
  Telecomms Cluster deployments in
• An emergency as a parallel system to the
  existing standard one, mainly for telecomms and
  security personnel to evaluate
• Steady state operation in the field
• Work together with Motorola and other UN
  agencies and humanitarian partners on the further
  development of the system

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WFP Information and Communication Technology
Thank You! Questions?