Frost & Sullivan: European First Responders Market Offers Potential for Civil Security

Frost & Sullivan explained that command and control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) equipment, the core requirements for first responders, help provide vital services during a crisis.

The research firm found that although unclear policies and budgetary constraints are the key challenges in procuring these technologies, the departments and ministries responsible for first responders do not want to compromise on civilian safety. Accordingly, an increasing budget outlay exclusively for first responders is anticipated in the coming years, with attractive and long-term business opportunities for market participants.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, "European First Responders C3I Market Assessment," finds that the market is likely to reach $17.6 billion between 2009 and 2018 as harnessing first responders is a key area of constant development for the ministries and departments of civil security.

"There is a growing trend towards greater communication security and interoperability," said Balaji Srimoolanathan, Program Manager for Aerospace & Defence at Frost & Sullivan. "All segments of C3I will experience exponential growth during the long-term even as certain technologies such as satellite communication are expected to overtake their competitors due to greater end-user need."

Large projects to equip first responders are usually the responsibility of a central leadership or a national authority. However, all other systems, particularly the smaller ones that are procured and used by first responders, are locally paid for at the individual level. This is applicable to law-enforcement agencies, fire-fighting services, and medical emergency units. Additionally, this market is significantly project-driven and largely cyclical, making it difficult for the new entrants.

Market participants should be aware that the demand for first responder C3I systems is likely to increase due to various geopolitical factors. Targeting this market, therefore, will yield returns.

However, this market is characterised by stiff competition with existing participants enjoying an advantage. At the same time, the first responders' C3I market is highly fragmented with a conflict of interest at the end-user level.

"The overall market scenario is unclear due to the lack of a unified procurement policy across agencies as well as within an agency," said Srimoolanathan. "This is compounded by the fact that even funding is often not handled by those who frame procurement policies."

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