New system name: Alamo Area Regional Radio System (AARRS)
System users: City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and CPS Energy
System type: P25 Phase II (Uniden SDS-100/200 Simulcast Scanners)
Below is the official letter to the FCC which will impart specific details about the new P25 Phase II system and it's planned roll out schedule
May 14, 2019
Licensing and Technical Analysis Branch
Federal Communications Commission
1270 Fairfield Road
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325-7245
Dear Sir / Madam,
The City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and CPS Energy are implementing a new trunked radio system, which they have named the Alamo Area Regional Radio System (AARRS), in order to support numerous agencies within the San Antonio / Bexar County region. The AARRS project consists of 28 P25 Radio Sites, aggregated into 5 simulcast cells for spectrum efficiency, and multiple dispatch facilities that support approximately 13,000 radios. To the greatest extent possible, the current 800 MHz frequencies will be utilized to implement the new radio system. However, in order to allow for uninterrupted critical public safety communications during the transition period, 24 additional frequencies are required. Upon final transition to the new system, 24 frequency pairs currently utilized in the legacy system will no longer be required. These 24 frequency pairs will be removed from the City of San Antonio licenses and made available for use by others. Due to the complex nature associated with projects of this scale, a multi-year construction and implementation schedule will be required. In addition, the system will serve a fleet of over 13,000 field units, requiring an extended loading schedule. As such, the City of San Antonio, on behalf of the AARRS project, is requesting a slow growth application for extended implementation in accordance with section and rule #90.629. Within five (5) years, AARRS will have all Simulcast Repeater Sites constructed, operational, and loaded. The actual stations should be constructed and operational within one to two years of license grant. Following authorization, the system will be constructed as follows, on or before the dates identified below. July 2020 Construct 28 Simulcast Sites – All stations constructed and ready for testing May 2021 Complete System Test and Validation – Perform extensive system performance and coverage verification testing Aug 2021 Transition AARRS Core Users to the new P25 System – Initial user transition will involve ~11,400 field units July 2022 Transition Additional Outside / Regional Agencies – Add additional ~1000 field units (24 frequencies returned) July 2023 Add Additional Regional Users, Enhance Interoperability – Add additional ~500 field units July 2024 Add Additional Regional Users, Enhance Interoperability – Add additional ~500 field units Total at the end of July 2024: 13,400 mobile/portable radios and control stations.
If I may provide additional information please contact me at (210)387-69xx
Sincerely,
John Rodriguez
AARRS Radio Network Manager
Assistant IT Director
City of San Antonio