The Digital Trunk Radio Platform was jointly designed by Communications and Information Technology Branches.

Its digital encryption technology will help facilitate secure crime surveillance operations and prevent eavesdropping.

With the two users (Marine and Crime) sharing the Digital Trunk Radio Platform a capital saving of over HK$30 million can be achieved. The system infrastructure can be expanded and shared among different users who each can have its own virtual network able to operate independently and confidentially. Common talkgroups can be established for joint operations if required.

The tender exercise attracted top leaders in the technological field offering the best and latest standards.

The system provides simultaneous voice and data communication which is very important as officers, while speaking over the radio, can still receive or transmit data from the radio terminal. It also allows the potential development of multimedia services enabling video, text and wireless fax. Operating equipment includes 35 dispatch consoles, 1,000 radio terminals, 75 data terminals, 150 Global Positioning System terminals and 25 Automatic Vessel Location monitors.

The portable radios will be compact and fitted with harnesses suitable for covert carrying. Radios issued to Marine Police will be rugged and water-resistant.

The platform will provide digital voice communication offering consistently clear signals, unlike the old analogue system. Apart from clearer reception, the new radios will provide data messaging with Short Message Services and Status Messages, enabling the transmission of status information.

Location fixing of vessels using GPS will also be possible. Real-time information provided by the system will enable more effective deployment of the Marine Police fleet and vessel locations and course records can also be archived for managerial purposes.

Wide coverage will be ensured by the provision of cell sites at hilltops and high capacity transmissions at city centres will be supplemented with the provision of building tops.

Costing US$19 million, including optional offers, the system is scheduled for commissioning in four phases next year: