The departure of controversial provider Motorola has severely hindered the progress of the ESN project, and it is unlikely that significant advancements can be made until a new supplier is found, according to authorities. Dame Meg Hillier, chairman of the PAC, criticized the government’s optimistic bias, stating that there is no realistic plan for ESN and no evidence that it will be as effective as the current system. The Home Office’s claims of moving forward with the project are disconnected from reality, and the burden of continued delays should not fall on emergency services. With £2bn already spent on ESN, the Home Office must not waste additional funds. The PAC has called on the government to outline how it will assist emergency services in managing the costs of the transition, as well as maintaining and acquiring new Airwave devices during the delay. Additionally, the report states that the Home Office should disclose its plans for the core elements of ESN, including prototyping, building, and testing in real-world conditions, by the end of the year.
These concerns voiced by MPs follow the competition watchdog’s decision to impose price caps on Airwave due to concerns of overcharging by Motorola, resulting in an annual cost of £200m to taxpayers. The Competition and Markets Authority found that Motorola’s delays had created a monopoly situation, as emergency services had no choice but to continue using the old system. Criticism has also been directed at Motorola’s dual role as the provider of both Airwave and ESN, which removes the incentive for the company to expedite the transition. However, the government has since terminated its contract with Motorola.
The PAC has urged the Home Office to prevent EE, the main network infrastructure provider, from becoming a new monopoly supplier. A spokesperson for the Home Office stated that the contract with Motorola had been mutually terminated, and that progress is being made in procuring a new user services supplier.
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