Barrett Communications: PNG Health Radio Network

PNG National Health Radio Network

The PNG National Health Radio Network is an ongoing project designed to provide long distance communications services to remote areas of PNG. The project is primarily funded by AUS Aid under the Health Services Support Program (HSSP).

The Health Radio Network began in the province of Madang seven years ago and the area still currently operates approximately 300 radios.

These early installations consisted of a Barrett 530 transceiver with solar power and a broadband antenna. The Barrett 530 was a 12 channel transceiver highly regarded for it’s ease of use.

In later installations the Barrett 530 has been replaced by the Barrett 930. The newer transceiver allows for an additional 8 channels and a lower current draw but still maintains the simple operation capability that made the Barrett 530 famous.

Since the introduction of the Barrett 930 a further 300 transceivers have been installed in seven provinces. A high power state of the art central control station has also been commissioned in Port Moresby to assist in the passage of vital medical information to the remote regions of PNG.

Barrett Communications' sole sales and service agency in the region, TE PNG, have conducted all of the installations. The remote location and inhospitable terrain of most rural areas has seen the team of technicians from TE PNG become well acquainted with helicopter, fixed wing aircraft and small boat travel.

There are still 10 provinces to be completed before the network can be truly national. These areas currently rely on a number of agencies providing limited communications access but the goal of a national health radio network, controlled an maintained by the PNG Department of Health, is drawing ever closer.