Case Study: New Zealand Fire Service achieves faster emergency response and 100% alarm system availability with Unisys STSMHS

Providing enhanced citizen safety via 100% available alarm monitoring system

New Zealand Fire Service worked with Unisys to address the challenge of keeping its life-critical alarm monitoring system always available while reducing operating costs. The goal was to react to first-responder rescue emergencies as quickly as possible and maintain reliable handling of emergency messages across the country.

Unisys implemented the IP-based Signal Transport System Message Handling System (STSMHS), along with distributed deployment, system testing, staff training, and 24/7 support for software and hardware. The solution enabled NZFS to manage around 40,000 message transactions per day in real time, handle major spikes during events like the 2011 Christchurch earthquake without performance loss, improve event prioritization and reporting, reduce maintenance costs, and maintain maximum system availability and resiliency.

New Zealand Fire Service

Stuart Waring

ICT Manager – Data and Intelligence