Principle two : ensure availability of the Public Safety Network

The PSN is used by Emergency Services Organisations, government agencies, emergency management entities, utilities and others with sanctioned roles in public safety and emergency management to communicate while performing their functions of keeping people safe and protecting property.
 
The PSN must be available at critical locations, which are areas of high public safety or emergency management risk impact. Examples include, but are not limited to, hospitals, train stations, court houses, stadia, major road and rail tunnels and critical utility assets.  

Ensuring PSN coverage availability may require the provision of ‘indoor’ network coverage solutions when macro (communications tower) PSN coverage does not sufficiently penetrate the structures.  

Infrastructure deliverers must engage with NSW Telco Authority when assessing their PSN coverage requirements if they determine their project has sufficiently critical or frequent public safety/emergency management risks to warrant PSN IBC. This risk assessment should include consideration of the frequency of emergency services organisations operating at the location and the nature of their activities.  

Assess digital connectivity needs 

Certain locations need to have PSN coverage, including critical infrastructure and areas of mass congregation.

Critical infrastructure asset categories are defined in Section 9 of the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (Cth). Areas of mass congregation can include other infrastructure that may not be defined as critical infrastructure, but which may be risk assessed against the requirement for PSN coverage.

For the purpose of this principle, both critical infrastructure and areas of mass congregation are categorised as critical locations.

PSN availability is required at critical locations to mitigate public safety and emergency management risks. PSN availability is also important in infrastructure that emergency services will attend frequently.  

• PSN coverage
• IBC systems 
• NSW Telco Authority’s role

PSN coverage 

The PSN’s footprint is being expanded by the Critical Communications Enhancement Program (CCEP), increasing land coverage to 85 per cent of New South Wales and population coverage to 99.7 per cent of the population. This means most locations within the PSN footprint will have access to the PSN through the macro (outdoor) coverage provided by the network of PSN communications towers. 

However, there may be circumstances where macro coverage is not available or the radiofrequency signals of PSN macro coverage cannot penetrate structures or obstacles. A PSN IBC system may be installed if determined to be necessary.  

IBC systems 

When macro coverage is absent or insufficient, an initial risk assessment may be required to determine whether a PSN IBC system is needed. Risk assessments consider if the public safety criticality of the location justifies a PSN IBC system. 
A risk assessment should consider: 

• size, structural design and layout of the structure 

• frequency and purpose of emergency services attendance inside the infrastructure 

• likelihood and impact of major public safety and emergency management events inside the infrastructure 

• the availability and risk mitigation value of any available external PSN macro coverage at the infrastructure 

• value of further mitigation by establishing PSN IBC coverage. 

• IBC systems are not a requirement for non-critical locations and are not a default response to a lack of PSN coverage within structures in its macro coverage footprint. 

If your initial assessment determines that a PSN IBC system may be required or your project is a large building or structure with subterranean levels (including major roads and rail tunnels), please
contact NSW Telco Authority. 

NSW Telco Authority’s role 

NSW Telco Authority should be contacted for any PSN-related enquiries. 
NSW Telco Authority is responsible for final determination of PSN coverage and IBC system requirements and can provide assistance in undertaking risk assessments for this purpose. This includes consultation with Emergency Services Organisations about their operational requirements.

NSW Telco Authority will also continue to independently engage with agencies when it considers that PSN IBC may be required. 

For more information contact the NSW Telco Authority PSN IBC team . 
Email: telcoclientservices@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.