(l to r) Tom Ross, managing director of Event Communication Services, and Peter Matthews, general manager at Castlepoint
Bournemouth’s major retail shopping park, Castlepoint, appointed Southampton-based Event Communication Services (ECS) to provide a radio system to enable staff to communicate throughout the 645,000 square feet site which contains 40 retailers.
To improve safety and engage with retailers, the retail park’s management had a requirement to increase radio coverage across the site and upgrade the existing communications system with a more efficient, up-to-date alternative.
Following extensive site testing, Event Communication Services installed a Kenwood digital infrastructure which consists of three repeaters and directional antennas to boost the radio signal coverage across the retail park and Kenwood Nexedge digital hand-held radios, which are connected together and managed through this comprehensive infrastructure and antenna network.
The Kenwood Nexedge equipment employs state-of-the-art digital voice processing technology to ensure clear voice quality and reliability, even in a noisy shopping environment.
Event Communication Services has also incorporated a shop watch scheme onto the network. Shop watch unites the retailers and security staff with the two-way radio system, therefore helping to reduce the risk of crime and increasing security staff confidence managing the possibility of altercations.
Peter Matthews, general manager at Castlepoint, says: “Castlepoint had an existing communications system but didn’t have coverage in every area of the retail park and we approached ECS to provide a solution. We have been very impressed with the service provided by the ECS team. The products supplied increase the radio coverage across Castlepoint ensuring that our security staff and retailers have constant open communications with each other.”
Tom Ross, managing director at Event Communication Services, adds: “We are delighted to be working with Bournemouth’s major retail shopping park. Going forward, we will be upgrading all site radios from analogue to digital which will provide many user benefits including eliminating static, fading or noise and providing greater security whereby the user cannot be eavesdropped. ”