First Steps Towards Mobile Radio System

Chronicle (Levin), 14 June 1949, Page 6

First Steps Towards Mobile Radio System

' WELLINGTON, June 13. One of the largest peace-time ordr rs for specialis.ed radio equipment ever placed in New Zealand, has been given to a Wellington manufaeturer by the Post Office, for 50 mobile * radio-teie-phone base station units whieh are to" be built to a prototype designed Dy Poat Office Engineers. A few of the units will replace modifled war surplus equipment used in mobile telephone ser vices in the four main feentres and replace some of the' units used by the Police Department, but mpst .of thein' wili provide service for new subscriberssuch as fire traffic and ambulance services and for taxis, carrying firins and other privat-e utility concerns. Tlre tuture development envisaged by the Post Office is the provision qf a publie telephone service for mobileunits. By this means a-. mobile uiill' could be connected .to any number m the telephone- system. Work is at pre sent being done in establishing remote controlled ratdio stations whieh wili form a basis for the system. A mobile radio communication ser. vice is now being provided for publie and private utility authorities in tlufour main centres. SurVeys have als-j been made tiefore establishing base fa cilities in Napier, Palmerston Norlh, 'Wanganui and Hutt Valley.