Canton Aargau needs more money for security radio network Polycom
Ensuring the operation of the Polycom radio network used by law enforcement agencies and the police in the canton of Aargau is proving more expensive than planned. The cantonal government has requested a supplementary appropriation from the cantonal parliament. Annual operating costs are rising by 150,000 francs to 360,000 francs.
In the message published on Friday, the government council cited massive cost increases on the part of suppliers as the reason for the higher operating costs. In order to ensure the operational capability of the plant, an increase in the commitment credit is necessary.
The government council wrote in its message to the Grand Council that the rescue and security authorities and all partners depend on secure and highly available telecommunications systems for efficient command and emergency communications. The maintenance and servicing work is therefore a top priority.
Polycom is the security radio network of Switzerland's rescue and security authorities and organizations (BORS), in which the federal government and cantons have invested a total of around 1 billion Swiss francs to date. This radio network provides a highly available, tap-proof communications platform that is protected from interference.
After around 20 years of operation, the radio network needed to be technically renewed. For the value maintenance of the security radio network, the Grand Council decided in November 2017 on a commitment credit for a one-time gross expense of 3.5 million francs and an annually recurring gross expense of 210,000 francs, which is no longer sufficient. The budget for the one-off costs for the project can be met, as the government council noted. (SDA)
