BT harpoons Dolphin with radio network

BT is expanding its government-subsidised terrestrial-trunked radio access (Tetra) network to poach emergency service customers from rival Dolphin.

Dolphin managed to secure customers for its Tetra service before BT won the contract to supply Tetra on a subsidised basis to all UK government emergency services.

Tim Sheedy, telecommunications analyst for researcher company IDC, said: "Many users of the current Dolphin Tetra network will probably migrate over to BT to save costs. The government has subsidised this project to the tune of £2.5bn over 10 years, and users will not have to pay a metered charge to communicate using Tetra base stations."

BT said it is targeting the Ministry of Defence, the Prison Service, fire services, ambulance trusts and the NHS.

However, despite having to compete with a heavily subsidised service, Dolphin is refusing to call foul. The company this week launched ResponseNet, which it says will allow critical services to co-ordinate their activities during major incidents, events or exercises.

Until now, Dolphin's Tetra network did not allow different services to communicate with each other without breaking out onto the public telephone network.

BT's Tetra network national rollout will be completed in 2005 and the telco said it will have a significant role to play in the drive to cut ambulance response times.

The service will provide automatic vehicle location, allowing control rooms to ensure that vital information, such as addresses and the nature of an emergency, is sent directly to vehicles. This will eliminate the risk of confusion caused by poor radio reception.

Sheedy said Dolphin will have its work cut out competing with BT's subsidised service.