Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is to install a managed wide area network after experiencing problems with the reliability of its unmanaged broadband network.

The fire brigade uses a shared network which is prone to varying performance and loss of connection at peak times.

More than half of its stations are manned by part-time firefighters who are on call to respond to emergencies but otherwise work only at night.

‘Many firefighters come in at night to practise drills and complete administration, only to find that they cannot log on to the network,’ said the service’s IT manager Chris Donaldson.

‘A managed network will help to improve performance and reduce costs.’

Dorset is to install the new network before the end of the year, and also wants access to extra services such as anti-virus systems and anti-spam scanning.

It also wants to improve flexibility to support new sites and voice communications.

‘Voice over IP looks to be the future of telephony and we will install in it a new building due to be completed in two years’ time,’ said Donaldson.

‘If we see cost savings through voice over IP, then we would be able to roll it out further across the fire service.’

Reliability and quality of service is essential for the emergency services, says Butler Group analyst Mark Blowers.

‘A managed network will allow Dorset Fire and Rescue Service to institute service level agreements that are not available through a standard network,’ he said.

‘Managed networks also often include bundled services – it is a whole communications package and not just internet connection. It will also help prepare the service for the future as you need a secure, reliable network before introducing technologies such as voice over IP and video.’