The Bay Area Regional Interoperable Communications Systems Authority approved a $95 million agreement with Motorola Solutions (MSI) to provide a public safety network using LTE technology across 700 MHz spectrum in the San Francisco area.
The network, dubbed the Bay Areas Enhanced Wireless Broadband system, is funded through a $50.6 million federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Broadband Technology Opportunity Program grant, with Motorola matching up to $44 million in funding.
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Under the “build, own, operate and maintain” agreement, Motorola Solutions will be responsible for building and operating the network exclusively for use by public safety personnel. Motorola will operate the system for a 10-year period, and then transfer the system to the BayRICS Authority at no cost. BayWEB is anticipated to begin operation in 2013.
The agreement is expected to be a key step toward realizing the BayWEB project, which will allow police, fire and other emergency services agencies across the area to access urgent data and collaborate in real-time via voice and video on a dedicated broadband network.
Motorola said it will work closely with both the NTIA and Bay Area Public Safety Agencies to begin the build-out on the network. The company will use existing radio sites, infrastructure and 700 MHz public safety radio spectrum for the network.
