NSW government to trial GPS boosters in tunnels to aid map navigation

Sydney commuters will get some extra help in finding that elusive freeway exit when the government goes ahead with plans to overturn a ban on GPS usage in tunnels.

Sydney motorists will never miss another motorway exit again with the State Government to trial new GPS-boosters within the tunnel network after a ban on the technology was overturned.

In a move set to also be welcomed by police, ambulance and fire crews trying to pinpoint an incident along with freight companies, the Transport for NSW has secured funding for a trial which will investigate points inside tunnels where GPS signals can be “repeated” to allow navigation devices to work.

Should the trial be a success, the technology will be rolled out across Sydney’s road tunnel network, including major projects being developed such as the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link.

GPS devices will now be allowed to be used inside freeway tunnels. Picture: John Grainger

GPS signals do not work in road tunnels because they lose the line of sight to satellites. While the loss of transmission is annoying for motorists unfamiliar with a tunnel, it can also impede emergency crews from locating a triple-0 caller.

Under the Radiocommunications Act 1992, GPS repeaters are banned as they can potentially interfere with signals. Transport for NSW, NSW Telco Authority, Fire & Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance and NSW Police had been negotiating with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to amend the laws to allow a trial of innovative new technology to go ahead.

The move is designed to help those like firefighters. Picture: Adam Yip

Transport for NSW Acting Deputy Secretary Howard Collins said the technology would be rolled out as part of the trial in the coming months.

“The roadblock had been a federal law that banned GPS repeaters, because of concerns they could interfere with external GPS signals when not ­operated properly,” he said.

“The trial will investigate points inside tunnels where GPS signals can be ‘repeated’, then test communication between in-tunnel GPS signal simulators and receivers on navigation devices, such as ­in-vehicle GPS units.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said it was hoped the technology would lead to an increased response capability.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance says the new rule will make the network safer. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jenny Evans

“Fire and Rescue NSW crews will be at the forefront of testing this new technology, undertaking various scenarios to ensure our specialist communications team can pinpoint the exact location of a triple-0 caller if they are in a tunnel, and increase our visibility of our trucks and crews to ensure the correct resourcing is assigned to an emergency incident,” he said.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the technology would improve the safety of the tunnel network by taking away the potential for confusion.