Harris to modernise Maryland County’s first responder communications

Harris has received a $34m contract from Saint Mary’s County at Maryland, US to design and deploy a Project 25 (P25) Phase 2 standards-based radio system.

Under the contract, first responders’ critical communications will be modernised through a new county-wide public safety radio network based on the latest standards for voice and data transmissions, including long-term service and support maintenance.

Saint Mary’s County director of Emergency Services and Technology Bob Kelly said, "The first responders in Saint Mary’s County are committed to protecting the safety of our residents, and to do that, they require reliable and interoperable communication solutions that perform when needed most."

"After a comprehensive evaluation process, we chose the Harris system because it offered us the best coverage for our first responders’ needs and is based on the latest generation of communication standards."

The P25 Phase 2 standards-based interoperable digital radio communications equipment will provide greater coverage, including in-building coverage, for voice and data communications across the county.

Operating at 800MHz, the 10-channel P25 Phase 2 system provides reliable radio capabilities for law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies.

Interoperable with other agencies, irrespective of frequency band, the new system causes least disruption to daily communications, while providing a cost-effective migration path from Saint Mary’s County’s current Harris Enhanced Digital Access Communication System (EDACS) system.

The Harris P25 Phase 2 system is part of the unified internet protocol-based voice and data communication system, VIDA network.