Scape Australia is the largest provider of student accommodation in the country, offering living and learning environments in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. The organization employs over 700 staff members and houses 18,000 residents across 38 buildings in four states. Ensuring student safety is a key priority for Scape. To support this, the company requires a flexible and reliable nationwide Push-to-Talk (PTT) communication system for its in-house mobile security teams and front desk operations staff. The solution needed to be resilient and capable of rapid deployment, with minimal investment in back-end infrastructure to reduce capital expenditure (CapEx). Implementing a traditional radio frequency (RF) solution for properties exceeding 50 storeys was not practical or financially feasible.

After much consideration on the requirements, Roar Radios, in conjunction with its long-term distributor, AceComms, deployed a Motorola Solutions WAVE PTX broadband PTT solution. Scape equipped its security teams across Australia with TLK110 radios, and controllers who manage multiple sites were issued with Evolve devices. The devices, with their open Android platform, can run other applications, such as Scape’s access control, property management, and operational applications. These devices roam seamlessly to find the best available signal, mostly using the mobile network, but with the ability to automatically switch to various sites’ robust Wi-Fi networks. Ensuring that users always have clear communications, whether on the road between locations or operating in a tower block basement.

Scape has set up a TLK 150 and WAVE PTX dispatch to centrally communicate with, track, and coordinate teams and manage incident response. Although teams work in 24/7 rolling shifts, each device has an alias and individual call sign, so the control centre can immediately identify and locate the caller. Senior managers also run the WAVE PTX app on their smartphones for business-wide visibility in case they need to be involved in any major incidents. Scape’s central technology team manages the WAVE PTX deployment via the WAVE portal, and the in-house team appreciates this flexibility of being able to add new radios and talk groups or update or change profiles independently when needed.

This WAVE PTX solution helps keep students safe in their accommodations. If a student feels threatened or locks themselves out of their rooms or building, they can raise concern via the Scape Safe Hub, which uses the WAVE PTX system to quickly and effectively communicate this information to the relevant guards and dispatch the nearest security team to help the students. This ability to coordinate an effective and timely response is paramount, as safety and students’ well-being are at the heart of Scape’s company ethos and part of its Scape Safe programme.

WAVE PTX has met all Scape’s key requirements, from speed and simplicity of deployment, nationwide, resilient communications, and the flexibility and functionality of the solution to the ease of use, transparent budgeting, and management of the system. Scape appreciates the support available from Roar Radios, AceComms, and Motorola Solutions, both locally and on a global scale, should the system ever be rolled out on a wider scale.

Scape is aware of the future capabilities of its WAVE PTX solution, such as individual and emergency calls, multimedia, and other technology and accessories from the Motorola Solutions safety and security ecosystem. Following the success of the deployment, Scape Australia is now looking at widening the installation to include other areas of its business, such as its transport and events teams, always to keep its students safe.

Beneficial Outcomes for Scape Australia:

• WAVE PTX was deployed across locations, with no infrastructure required, so CapEx was reduced
• Scape mobile security teams connect over both LTE and Wi-Fi networks, and the devices seamlessly roam to automatically switch to the strongest available network for reliable, clear communications wherever users are located.
• Managers can log into the system via the mobile app, downloaded onto their smartphones, to always be connected
• WAVE PTX dispatch provides accurate real-time user location tracking for improved efficiency and coordinated response in case of incidents
• Scape uses the easy-to-use WAVE PTX portal to manage its system and to programme and configure devices, which saves time and cost
• Fixed, monthly license-based costs make it easier for Scape to manage its budget
• The flexible system is scalable as Scape is looking for further functionality and possible expansion, and integration with the wider Motorola Solutions safety ecosystem
• The deployment has directly contributed to improved operational efficiency, team productivity, and customer service
• Most importantly, it has helped to enhance the security and safety of Scape’s students.

To learn more about how WAVE PTX can help you in your business, please visit: www.acecomms.com.au