Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
Agile delivery provides emergency service with enhanced voice and network quality
Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service (LF&R) provides emergency assistance alongside community safety initiatives in Leicestershire and Rutland. During 2022/23, LF&R attended 9,440 emergency incidents, including 2,650 fires and 710 road traffic collisions. It carried out 13,660 Home Safety Checks and installed 4,767 smoke alarms. The Service also visited 238 schools, delivering fire and road safety education to 21,033 pupils.
LF&R is currently engaged in a £5m venture with Motorola to enhance its resource mobilisation capabilities. The programme will upgrade voice and firewall systems to dispatch emergency vehicles more efficiently in response to public calls.
To boost the quality of voice calls, LF&R sought Session Border Controller (SBC) support from an experienced technology provider. Following a glowing recommendation from one of our industry partners, the Blue Light organisation turned to Nasstar for support.
Services
Voice Services
Network Services
The Brief
Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service operates in a demanding environment where speed of response can be the difference between life and death. The multi-million-pound resource mobilisation project with Motorola will increase the effectiveness and resilience of LF&R’s vital operations. It will help to reduce response times, optimise resource allocation, and enhance personnel training and development.
To prepare, the Service needed to upgrade its voice and data network infrastructure as legacy systems were struggling to match the demands of modern emergency responders. For example, the lack of communication and integration capabilities was beginning to impact collaboration between the LF&R control room and its field units.
Nasstar’s goal was to provide essential support to the mobilisation programme. This assistance would become crucial due to the time-sensitive nature of the venture and the importance of security and reliability in LF&R’s operations.
The Benefits
Nasstar's work has provided LF&R with a highly available and resilient solution, which was crucial for the mobilisation programme. Nasstar has ensured that the organisation's critical applications and services remain operational even during periods of increased traffic.
UK Government validation: Nasstar's contributions played a significant role in the continuation of the mobilisation project without any significant delays. This helped LF&R adhere to crucial target dates, including Code of Connection and UK Government Home Office Approval and facilitated the timely decommissioning of old equipment.
Risk mitigation: Nasstar's support safeguarded the Service from financial implications and maintained the project's momentum. Had these milestones not been met, the mobilisation project would have experienced delays, potentially incurring substantial costs for LF&R.
Improving community safety: By improving LF&R's voice call quality and enhancing its resource mobilisation capabilities, Nasstar has contributed to the organisation's mission of providing exceptional fire and rescue services in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Future opportunities: The successful partnership between Nasstar and LF&R has sparked further discussions about a broader digital strategy, specifically in the public cloud and M365 space. These opportunities could enhance productivity for both operational and back-office staff while maximising existing investments in digital services.
The Solution
Starting with a referral, Nasstar built a strong relationship with LF&R's key stakeholders and dedicated time and expertise to onsite collaboration. Following the initial engagement and onsite meeting, LF&R set Nasstar specific and challenging targets due to the critical nature of the mobilisation programme.
Nasstar organised an expert team to improve LF&R's voice call quality while partnering with Fortinet for the Service’s networking and firewall requirements. Nasstar's specialists prioritised quick delivery and industry best practice to ensure the work met LF&R's unique needs.
The hosted solution enables the control room to build a clear picture of events with multiple data sources, including real-time data from devices in the field. It actively supports easier data sharing and flexible operational practices, improving collaboration and mutual aid between fire services during spate conditions, where many calls are received simultaneously across multiple locations.
Nasstar's implementation team demonstrated remarkable agility, unwavering support, and a commitment to align with LF&R’s objectives throughout the implementation process. Despite facing challenging timescales and strict deadlines, Nasstar encountered no major roadblocks, showcasing its ability to navigate demanding circumstances.
The team provided LF&R with guidance and support while leveraging its expertise to tailor solutions that precisely met the organisation’s needs. This ensured the swift continuation of the program of work and optimised outcomes within the mobilisation program. By delivering exceptional service, Nasstar proved itself as a strategic partner capable of supporting Blue Light organisations on their transformation journeys.
Nasstar has remained available and responsive since the implementation, demonstrating its commitment to LF&R’s success. The evolving relationship has led to ongoing discussions about future opportunities that will help the Service achieve its organisation-wide transformation goals.