3.13 Many of the problems with call-dropping were solved following software upgrades although the exact cause of the problems was not identified. There was some debate over whether the problems lay in the infrastructure, the terminals or the way in which officers were using the equipment. Some of the problems were with the terminals and PITO took action to address these but such problems may have to be addressed again for any force which purchases its terminals from a different supplier than the one used in the pilot.
3.14 The need to provide adequate communications for the Greater Manchester Police Force in good time for the 2002 Commonwealth Games placed particular pressure on the timing of the project. This deadline placed PITO in a difficult position. It was caught between the need to meet a pressing and high profile operational requirement within one of its stakeholders while needing to ensure that it did not sign up to what might turn out to be a sub-standard service, which the police would be locked into for up to 19 years.