Theresa May, when she was home secretary, approved plans to purchase the £1.2bn emergency services network (ESN) as a cheaper option to replace the Airwave communications system currently used by police, fire and ambulance services. The new network is expected to save money by using parts of EE’s existing commercial 4G network. The report said emergency services and other users of Airwave were concerned that ESN will not replicate all of Airwave’s functions. A Home Office spokeswoman said ESN would help keep people safe and would be a more capable and more flexible communications network than the existing Airwave system. “As the National Audit Office’s report has itself concluded, ESN is the right direction strategically for maximising these benefits.

Source: The Guardian September 14, 2016 23:01 UTC