TETRA  |  2012-02-16

ABIOM SIGNS CONTRACT WITH METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

“It is a huge challenge to penetrate the UK market, but our chances look good and we are looking forward to taking on this challenge” said Abiom director Bas de Grood

Abiom has been awarded a framework supply contract with Europe’s largest and most prestigious police force: The Metropolitan Police Service. Located at the famous New Scotland Yard, London, the Metropolitan Police Service is the largest police force in Europe.

This contract with “The MET”, contains the exclusive rights for delivering radio accessories for all TETRA radio equipment using the Airwave TETRA radio service.  Besides The MET,  the framework enables 52 territorial, 3 national and  numerous other law enforcement agencies,  specialist units and other government security and fire and ambulance services to purchase equipment through the Framework. There are more than 150.000 users connected to the Airwave network. “We are especially proud that we succeeded to win this contract, making us one of three dedicated accessories suppliers for one of Europe’s largest markets,”  said Bas De Grood, CEO of Abiom Communication Systems.

The Metropolitan framework contains two of the most used TETRA radio brands, Sepura and Motorola and three accessory suppliers.  This way a healthy and stable competition has been created, and keeps manufacturers of radio terminals and accessories focused.

The MET framework covers a period of four years with an expected turnover of 20 to 30 million GBP of accessories. This is a great stimulus for manufacturers to design and develop new products.

Abiom specialises in the supply of public safety related radio equipment and accessories and holds a market leading position in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg . “It is a huge challenge to penetrate the UK market, but our chances look good and we are looking forward to taking on this challenge” said Bas de Grood.

The world renowned Metropolitan Police Service covers an area of  620 square miles (161,000 Hectares) serves a population of 7.2 million, and consists of 35.000 police officers, 14,000 police staff and is by far the largest police service in Europe. Besides their London territorial police duties, the MET has various national responsibilities such as counter terrorism and the security of the Royal Family.

Abiom has for some time had ambitions to enter and get a foothold in the United Kingdom; the MET framework is a big step forward. The company spent more than two years advance planning and preparation for this tender. During those years, Abiom became a preferred supplier of Phonak products for some specialist law enforcement agencies in the UK .

Source: www.abiom.nl