Avon Fire and Rescue Services (Avon FRS) will be using Cradlepoint’s 5G routers, powered by NetCloud to provide failover support to ensure unfailing and continuous connectivity across the Service’s 21 stations.
The fire and rescue service provides prevention, protection, and response services across the former Avon area, which reportedly spans 512 square miles, including an international airport, five motorways, four universities, and 450,000 homes. According to Cradlepoint, Avon FRS wanted connectivity to ensure unfailing communications, allowing its firefighters to undertake their duties and protect the lives of Avon’s 1.1 million population.
Cradlepoint’s NetCloud Service was deployed and wireless edge routers to Avon FRS’ 21 stations aimed to provide a future proofed solution. The new technology is said to have formed part of a larger project delivered by Avon FRS and Telent to provide a complete technology refresh to Avon FRS’ station end mobilisation system. Through this, Avon FRS are said to have gained further insight into its network, using the firm’s cloud-based NetCloud platform to monitor data more accurately.
John Craig, Station Manager, Avon Fire and Rescue Services, said, “Before undertaking this partnership we were already aware of Cradlepoint and its excellent products. We were looking for an ultra-resilient, high-speed router that wouldn’t rely on Paknet or other mobile services and PSTN telephone lines, as they are being decommissioned in 2025 and knew that Cradlepoint could deliver.
“Not only are the products fantastic, boosting the confidence of our six hundred-plus firefighters, but the service we received has been second-to-none. We cover an incredibly high-risk and expansive environment. Failures in communication can put the lives of our teams, and the public, at risk, and Cradlepoint has helped us significantly reduce that threat. We are already looking into installing Cradlepoint’s routers in our fleet of fire appliances and look forward to our future together.”
Netcloud is designed to proactively flag when connectivity fails, aimed to allow engineers to address any network issue remotely, significantly reducing downtime. This, according to Cradlepoint, increases the day-to-day ability of each firefighter to carry out their duties effectively, not having to worry about losing contact with their home station.
“Emergency responders shouldn’t have to worry about poor connection impacting their ability to carry out their duties. It is vital that they use reliable, high-speed network foundations that will only improve their ability to service the general public,’ said Steven Winter, Public Sector Regional Sales Manager at Cradlepoint. “Cradlepoint solutions are designed and developed to support the critical work done by all Blue Lights agencies including the fantastic team at Avon Fire and Rescue Services. ”
Barry Zielinski, Operations and Services Director at Telent said: “Providing Avon Fire and Rescue Services with an upgraded station end solution, providing the capability to carry out their duties more effectively is a fantastic project to be a part of. Protecting over one million people is no walk in the park, and ensuring every fire station remains connected is critical.
We look forward to continuing our work with Avon Fire and Rescue Services and delivering further future proof connectivity solutions with Cradlepoint for other fire and rescue services.”
