The Southern Hemisphere’s leading critical communications event, Comms Connect, made a highly anticipated return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this week. The two-day conference and exhibition, held from 16–17 October, was complemented by pre-conference workshops hosted by ARCIA and the ACCF on 15 October, attracting a broad spectrum of industry professionals.

This year's event followed several pivotal developments in the critical communications landscape, including the expansion of the FirstNet public safety network in the USA, the release of the RFI for Public Safety Mobile Broadband (PSMB) in Australia, and the Senate’s report on the Optus Network Outage. These milestones were explored extensively throughout the event, which featured a packed conference agenda under the themes of Public Safety, Critical Communications, and Industry.

Attendees from around the globe—including representatives from New Zealand, Hong Kong, the USA, and Finland—joined government officials, telcos, first responders, and industry leaders to discuss the latest trends and challenges in critical communications. The exhibition floor was equally dynamic, with dozens of vendors showcasing cutting-edge solutions. A dedicated "Demo Hub" provided live product demonstrations, further enhancing the hands-on experience for attendees.

The ARCIA Industry Gala Dinner and Excellence Awards, held on the evening of 16 October in conjunction with Comms Connect, celebrated remarkable achievements within the Australian radio communications industry. Geoff Spring, a panellist from The University of Melbourne’s Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, was honoured with a lifetime membership to ARCIA, while TCCA CEO Kevin Graham was presented with the prestigious Jonathan Livingston Seagull Award for his contributions to the sector.

Geoff Hird, Events Director for Comms Connect, expressed his satisfaction with this year's turnout, saying, “We experienced two days of vibrant activity in our largest-ever exhibition space, with exhibitors going above and beyond to create visually engaging and innovative stands. The conference sessions were equally well attended, with over 300 delegates gaining valuable insights from more than 70 expert speakers from across the region and internationally. Comms Connect Melbourne 2024 showcased the critical communications sector's continued growth and innovation.”

Comms Connect will return in 2025 with events scheduled for Christchurch and Melbourne. Stay tuned for further updates.