£2B in UK taxpayer cash later, and still no Emergency Services Network
(2023/03/09)
- Reference: 1678354213
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/03/09/esn_nao_report/
- Source link:
By the end of this month, the UK Home Office will have spent just under £2 billion ($2.4 billion) on a new critical communications network for the country's police, fire and ambulance services – with nothing to show for it, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO).
Even worse, the multi-year project has fallen further behind schedule and the Home Office cannot say when the replacement system will be operational, according to the spending watchdog.
The Emergency Services Network (ESN) program first kicked off in 2015 – the idea being that it would fully replace the existing near-indestructible Airwave units and system, which uses the Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) network; would "cost less"; and would provide users with access to modern mobile data. ESN was supposed to move critical emergency services off of the tried and tested TETRA (which, among other things, you can access ubiquitously across the London Underground) and onto LTE radio comms – with some obvious modifications and associated features like the push-to-talk ESN Direct.
[1]
Originally the plan was to switch off Airwave by September 2017, and to kit out emergency services with 4G-enabled devices ahead of this date. But delay followed delay.
[2]
[3]
In 2019, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the department had "still not got a grip on whether it can deliver the programme" and "still does not have an integrated plan for how and when each emergency service will deploy ESN."
UK Home Office's £885m crim records digi effort: A 'masterclass in incompetence' [4]READ MORE
[5]
The further £2.9 billion ($3.43 billion) spent to maintain Airwave, naturally, was a necessary cost under the circumstances. Airwave network operator [6]Motorola , however, came under intense scrutiny as both the maintainer of the old system and the winning bidder for key services in the new ESN contract.
[7]UK regulator proposes price cap on Motorola as supplier of Airwave network
[8]UK police to spend tens of millions on legacy comms network kit
[9]Motorola benefits from delays in the UK's emergency services network, says govt
[10]Samsung gets 2-year contract extensions to provide rugged handsets for UK's troubled Emergency Services Network
The UK's [11]Competition and Markets Authority started a probe into the matter in 2021, with the PAC already noting in 2019 that Motorola's involvement in both the new and old contract had led "to perverse incentives" and put "the department in a weak negotiating position." Motorola has denied conflict of interest and said last year that "Airwave, over its life, is a much better deal for the UK taxpayer than the Home Office originally agreed."
Early termination
in January, eight years after the first proposals for a new system to replace the outdated Airwave platform were unveiled, the Home Office and Motorola Solutions agreed to end their work on the [12]ESN contract in December 2023 .
The Home Office, meanwhile, does not currently know when ESN will be ready or how much it will ultimately cost.
Back in [13]2020 , a "mindset reset" pushed back the ESN a further £1 billion and two years, according to Home Office boss Matthew Rycroft.
[14]
As for the Home Office finding a new supplier to complete work on the ESN program? The NAO said this "will not happen before April 2024," adding that "although replacing Motorola may have been necessary, it does not guarantee that the programme will succeed."
The watchdog recommended the Home Office "make clear to users the value of ESN" particularly as Airwave meets their expectations and many have their own data solutions. And no more "resets" either – they should continually revise to provide a reliable timetable and avoid setting unrealistic time frames, it said.
The Home Office, meanwhile, maintains that "much" of ESN's "core" has been built, telling The Register : "The Emergency Services Network will provide first responders with better technology and faster access to life-saving data in emergency situations, helping to keep the public safe.
[15]
"While much of the core network has already been built, we are committed to addressing the delays and working closely with our partners to provide better value for money for the taxpayer, following Motorola's decision to leave the programme."
It added: "We thank the National Audit Office for their report and are now working at pace to implement all their recommendations."
As a side note, sci-fi and fantasy fans might be interested to note that the Airwave is the only device which can withstand interference by "magic" in the fictional world of the [16]Rivers of London , a series penned by former Doctor Who writer Ben Aaronovitch. The fantasy novels' lead character, PC Peter Grant (also an apprentice wizard) observes early on in his battles with ancient pre-Roman Celtic gods and goddesses – as well as some newer ones – that his trusty Airwave handset will always survive whereas smartphone chipsets (while battery connected) turn to dust near any magical event.
We understand that the Airwave contract has been extended until 2026 to ensure the emergency services have the core services they need to protect the public and keep them safe until ESN is deployed. We think 2026 is an ambitious timeframe, as, after all Airwave can only be switched off when it is safe to do so.
British taxpayers who are having a good day and want it ruined can download the report [17]here . ®
Get our [18]Tech Resources
[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZAm8VLP0uVFFIAvZNVZJZAAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
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[4] https://www.theregister.com/2018/05/25/digitisation_of_crim_records_masterclass_in_incompetence_gov_watchdog/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2019/06/21/home_office_extends_motorola_contract_for_esn/
[6] https://www.motorolasolutions.com/newsroom/press-releases/motorola-solutions-completes-acquisition-airwave.html
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/10/17/cma_motorola_airwave/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/09/uk_police_legacy_airwave_bill/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/05/10/motorola_airwave_esn_profits/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/16/samsung_esn_extension/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/10/17/cma_motorola_airwave/
[12] https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c0e0adca-269e-482f-8715-1d27557123de
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2020/09/15/mindset_reset_emergency_services_network/
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZAm8VLP0uVFFIAvZNVZJZAAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[15] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZAm8VLP0uVFFIAvZNVZJZAAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[16] https://www.worldcat.org/title/1263816005
[17] https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/progress-with-delivering-the-emergency-services-network/
[18] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Even worse, the multi-year project has fallen further behind schedule and the Home Office cannot say when the replacement system will be operational, according to the spending watchdog.
The Emergency Services Network (ESN) program first kicked off in 2015 – the idea being that it would fully replace the existing near-indestructible Airwave units and system, which uses the Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) network; would "cost less"; and would provide users with access to modern mobile data. ESN was supposed to move critical emergency services off of the tried and tested TETRA (which, among other things, you can access ubiquitously across the London Underground) and onto LTE radio comms – with some obvious modifications and associated features like the push-to-talk ESN Direct.
[1]
Originally the plan was to switch off Airwave by September 2017, and to kit out emergency services with 4G-enabled devices ahead of this date. But delay followed delay.
[2]
[3]
In 2019, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the department had "still not got a grip on whether it can deliver the programme" and "still does not have an integrated plan for how and when each emergency service will deploy ESN."
UK Home Office's £885m crim records digi effort: A 'masterclass in incompetence' [4]READ MORE
[5]
The further £2.9 billion ($3.43 billion) spent to maintain Airwave, naturally, was a necessary cost under the circumstances. Airwave network operator [6]Motorola , however, came under intense scrutiny as both the maintainer of the old system and the winning bidder for key services in the new ESN contract.
[7]UK regulator proposes price cap on Motorola as supplier of Airwave network
[8]UK police to spend tens of millions on legacy comms network kit
[9]Motorola benefits from delays in the UK's emergency services network, says govt
[10]Samsung gets 2-year contract extensions to provide rugged handsets for UK's troubled Emergency Services Network
The UK's [11]Competition and Markets Authority started a probe into the matter in 2021, with the PAC already noting in 2019 that Motorola's involvement in both the new and old contract had led "to perverse incentives" and put "the department in a weak negotiating position." Motorola has denied conflict of interest and said last year that "Airwave, over its life, is a much better deal for the UK taxpayer than the Home Office originally agreed."
Early termination
in January, eight years after the first proposals for a new system to replace the outdated Airwave platform were unveiled, the Home Office and Motorola Solutions agreed to end their work on the [12]ESN contract in December 2023 .
The Home Office, meanwhile, does not currently know when ESN will be ready or how much it will ultimately cost.
Back in [13]2020 , a "mindset reset" pushed back the ESN a further £1 billion and two years, according to Home Office boss Matthew Rycroft.
[14]
As for the Home Office finding a new supplier to complete work on the ESN program? The NAO said this "will not happen before April 2024," adding that "although replacing Motorola may have been necessary, it does not guarantee that the programme will succeed."
The watchdog recommended the Home Office "make clear to users the value of ESN" particularly as Airwave meets their expectations and many have their own data solutions. And no more "resets" either – they should continually revise to provide a reliable timetable and avoid setting unrealistic time frames, it said.
The Home Office, meanwhile, maintains that "much" of ESN's "core" has been built, telling The Register : "The Emergency Services Network will provide first responders with better technology and faster access to life-saving data in emergency situations, helping to keep the public safe.
[15]
"While much of the core network has already been built, we are committed to addressing the delays and working closely with our partners to provide better value for money for the taxpayer, following Motorola's decision to leave the programme."
It added: "We thank the National Audit Office for their report and are now working at pace to implement all their recommendations."
As a side note, sci-fi and fantasy fans might be interested to note that the Airwave is the only device which can withstand interference by "magic" in the fictional world of the [16]Rivers of London , a series penned by former Doctor Who writer Ben Aaronovitch. The fantasy novels' lead character, PC Peter Grant (also an apprentice wizard) observes early on in his battles with ancient pre-Roman Celtic gods and goddesses – as well as some newer ones – that his trusty Airwave handset will always survive whereas smartphone chipsets (while battery connected) turn to dust near any magical event.
We understand that the Airwave contract has been extended until 2026 to ensure the emergency services have the core services they need to protect the public and keep them safe until ESN is deployed. We think 2026 is an ambitious timeframe, as, after all Airwave can only be switched off when it is safe to do so.
British taxpayers who are having a good day and want it ruined can download the report [17]here . ®
Get our [18]Tech Resources
[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZAm8VLP0uVFFIAvZNVZJZAAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZAm8VLP0uVFFIAvZNVZJZAAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZAm8VLP0uVFFIAvZNVZJZAAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2018/05/25/digitisation_of_crim_records_masterclass_in_incompetence_gov_watchdog/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2019/06/21/home_office_extends_motorola_contract_for_esn/
[6] https://www.motorolasolutions.com/newsroom/press-releases/motorola-solutions-completes-acquisition-airwave.html
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/10/17/cma_motorola_airwave/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/09/uk_police_legacy_airwave_bill/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/05/10/motorola_airwave_esn_profits/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/16/samsung_esn_extension/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/10/17/cma_motorola_airwave/
[12] https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c0e0adca-269e-482f-8715-1d27557123de
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2020/09/15/mindset_reset_emergency_services_network/
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZAm8VLP0uVFFIAvZNVZJZAAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[15] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZAm8VLP0uVFFIAvZNVZJZAAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[16] https://www.worldcat.org/title/1263816005
[17] https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/progress-with-delivering-the-emergency-services-network/
[18] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Better never than late
Anonymous Coward
In the same way that syphilis isn't "better late than never", neither is ESN as it's been planned.
Should have been brought in alongside tetra, never as a one stop "replacement" with all the features that have ever been developed.
It should never have been planned as it was.
Anonymous Coward
It should never have been a "big switch", it should always have been "data first", then when that's running everything else can be built on top of it.
That was clear to those working in the area back in 2015
Re: It should never have been planned as it was.
A Non e-mouse
Big bang switch over/roll outs are inherently dangerous and should be avoided.
And the bigger the project, the bigger the bang is going to be when it goes wrong. (Because it will...)
hopeless
Wellyboot
We're now 5 years past the end point of a 5 year design & implement project. Airwave looks set to out do the decade long NHS IT fubar that spaffed about £6Bn.
Duplicating the military tactical radio net with a few modifications to suit the slightly different operating environment* should have been a serious option.
* some secret squirrel stuff gets changed, base station network will be fixed and higher powered.
IR35 changes
elsergiovolador
They keep shooting government in the foot since 2017
Re: IR35 changes
Doctor Syntax
2017? Try 1999.
Youngsters today, mumble, mumble...
Good day?
Anonymous Coward
British taxpayers who are having a good day and want it ruined can download the report here.
Good day?
Think so?
British taxpayers who voted Labour and Remain surely did not expect much better anything else from the present government.
And they haven't had a good day in a great many years.
The only thing British taxpayers have seen is the UK go to.the.dogs.
Whilst being litterally sold by the pound, including seats at the House.
A really sad, sad state of affairs of which only they are to blame.
.
ESN services vs network
Flak
More of a question to my esteemed fellow readers than a comment.
I understand EE provides the ESN 4G network infrastructure - are the elements mentioned here service overlays?
Better never than late
Worked for a company which was integrating ESN into their main product, using functionality provided by Motorola. Whilst our code was beautiful, elegant and well tested, it ultimately came down to Motorola holding up their end of the deal. Unfortunately, Motorola's functionality was the most unreliable and inconsistent SAAS I have ever encountered in 30 yrs of professional development. It is truly the worst example of SAAS I have ever had to deal with.
To make matters worse, over the course of about 6 months, most of the project team realised they were being underpaid and left for pastures new, including myself. Last I heard, the company were having some redundancies to try and get the project back on schedule.