The City of Philadelphia signed a multi-year contract with Motorola in June of 1999, valued at $51 million, to provide a new radio system for police, fire, and other municipal department operations.  This project replaces the current radio communications system which was installed in the 1960's.  Due to the critical nature of the system, the system is designed with multiple levels of redundancy, and inter-operability between all agencies.  The initial contract includes infrastructure, base station and dispatch equipment, and 7,000 radios.  The system will have 30 broadcast channels, with communication coverage over 95% of the City of Philadelphia's above ground areas.  

The initial 30 channel effort was completed in 2003 and a 5-channel expansion for the Police Department is currently underway. This effort is expected to be completed in early 2005.

Majid Alsayegh, James K. Lewis, Motorola Website