| Sepura supplies the Portuguese government with TETRA radios |
On Friday 16th October the UK Minister for Trade, Investment and Business, Lord Davies of Abersoch, visited Sepura to congratulate the Cambridge-based company on securing a framework contract for the supply of digital TETRA radios to the Portuguese Ministry of Internal Affairs - the Ministério da Administração Interna (MAI). The radios will operate on SIRESP, the national TETRA network implemented by the Portuguese Government for all public organisations; the network's deployment is now nearing 95% completion.
An immediate order will be placed for 17,000 TETRA radios plus corresponding accessories, with further orders of up to 40,000 TETRA radio terminals forecast for the next three years. The radios were selected on very complex assessment criteria and will be used by the National Republic Guard (NRG), the Public Safety Police (PSP), the National Institute for Medical Emergency (INEM) and the National Services of Fire Brigade and Civil Protection (SNBPC).
Lord Davies said: "Success stories like Sepura, Cambridge Consultants and Cambridge Temperature Concepts are exactly what we envisage when we encourage firms across the country to "take it to the world". Now is the perfect time for enterprising UK technology businesses, especially start ups and small businesses, to look abroad at the myriad opportunities available. Exporting breathes life into our economy."
Vitor Rodrigues, Business Development Manager for Sepura commented: "The Portugal-based UK Trade & Investment team provided Sepura with outstanding support throughout. It helped to build Sepura brand awareness at government level by organising key meetings and conferences which highlighted our world-leading position in the provision to public safety."
Mr Rodrigues continued: "Sepura was a prime vendor in this tender; we submitted our bid directly, not via a local partner, which is our usual preferred route to market. This makes our achievement even more remarkable, and it demonstrates our ability to face the challenges involved in complex bidding processes. Going forward we will work closely with our Portuguese partner, NEC, on activities ranging from software development to training and technical support."
Mr Rodrigues added: "This is the largest single order received by Sepura to date. With this prestigious contract we have now become market leader in yet another country, increasing the total to 36 and further expanding our global market share."
Gordon Watling, Sepura's CEO, concluded: "We are delighted that the Portuguese Ministry of Interior has selected Sepura to supply its TETRA radios for use on the new national network. This award builds on our recent successes with other major European tenders, such as those in Germany, and reinforces Sepura's position as the leading supplier of TETRA radios to public safety users world-wide."