FleetNet System To Stay Another Two Years

FleetNet System To Stay Another Two Years

Wednesday, July 09, 2008 at 14:48

 

 

A fire official in northwest Saskatchewan says his crew will make do with the FleetNet emergency system for another two years.

 

The aging broadcast system was recently granted an extension on its operating life by the government, which has been unable to find a suitable replacement up until now.

 

Joe Grilla of the Meadow Lake Fire Department says FleetNet is the best communication system available to them right now — but he looks forward to the day when a newer system will be ready.

 

The deputy fire chief notes FleetNet suffers from blind spots in certain areas.

 

Meantime, SaskTel spokesperson Michelle Englott says the service will also offer less features than before.

 

She notes they have cancelled the inter-connect feature, which allowed FleetNet users to place calls to regular telephones.

 

Englott says emergency responders will now only be able to ring phones already equipped with the FleetNet service.

 

She says the decision was made to scrap the inter-connect because it was not reliable and could cut-out at critical times.

 

As well, she says there are concerns that if that feature went down, it could take down the entire FleetNet network.

 

According to Englott, a new communications system should be ready by 2010.