CMA investigates Motorola emergency services radio network

The UK markets watchdog has launched an investigation into Motorola’s Airwave network, the mobile radio network used by all emergency services in Great Britain.

Motorola’s network provides the infrastructure and services that enable police, fire, and emergency services to communicate securely with each other when first responders are working in the field.

The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) launch of the probe follows a consultation opened in the summer, which highlighted concerns about the impact of the dual role of Motorola as the owner of the company providing the current mobile radio network - Airwave Solutions - and as a key supplier in the roll-out of the planned new Emergency Services Network (ESN).

An independent group will now investigate the sector and decide if there are problems, and if so, take appropriate action.

The regulator is concerned that the market for the supply of the mobile radio network used by all emergency services in Great Britain might not be working well, resulting in a more expensive service for customers and the taxpayer.

It said that insufficient information being provided to the Home Office in negotiations on the pricing of the network was leaving the government department in a “weak bargaining position.”

The authority added that due to Motorola’s dual role, the company has an “incentive to delay or shape the roll-out of the ESN to its advantage.”

“As the sole provider of critical mobile radio network services used by our emergency services, we’re concerned that Motorola could be cashing in on its position, leaving taxpayers to cover the cost,” said Andrea Coscelli, chief executive, CMA. “We’re now referring this market for a full investigation so that we can thoroughly examine these concerns and, if necessary, take action to address any problems.”

The Airwave network was first commissioned by the Home Office in 2000 and the agreement was due to end in December 2019. At this point, the network was expected to be shut down and be replaced with ESN, a new secure communications solution using a commercial 4G mobile network.

Motorola gained its dual role by purchasing the Airwave network in February 2016, two months after it had entered into a contract with the Government to provide software for ESN. The merger was cleared by the CMA, in part because of the general expectation that the Airwave network would be shut down by 2019.

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