Mobile radio deal struck

Mobile radio provider Tait Communications has clinched an agreement with Team Talk to supply and build its new nationwide digital mobile radio network.

The Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes were among the reasons Team Talk commissioned radio services from Tait, along with health and safety changes, Team Talk’s chief executive Andrew Miller said.

The earthquakes affected cellphone and landline coverage, prompting organisations to look at additional systems such as mobile radio.

Christchurch-based Tait is the designer and service provider of land mobile radio devices, while Team Talk develops fleet radio networks for companies such as Fulton Hogan.

The networks allow drivers of Fulton Hogan’s 1000 trucks, its foremen, managers and suppliers to keep in touch over wider areas than cellphones allow – a safety consideration when workers may be out in the field on their own.

Trevor Laughton, general manager at Tait, said land mobile radio was much more robust than cellular technology.

‘‘John Key was my best salesman immediately after the Kaikoura earthquakes because he was talking to media on land mobile radio which was the only available network.

‘‘They tend to be group calls. You don’t dial numbers and waiting for ring tones and you want the service to be there when you need it. The mobile radio police network is a Tait network.’’

Tait exports to 80 countries, and the New Zealand market makes up 10 per cent of its sales.