LONDON, January 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Command and control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) equipment, the core requirements for first responders, help provide vital services during a crisis. 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.

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New analysis from Frost Sullivan (http://www.aerospace.frost.com), 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, says 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, concludes Srimoolanathan. This is compounded by the fact that even funding is often not handled by those who frame procurement policies.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides a brief synopsis of the research and a table of contents, then send an e-mail to Monika Kwiecinska, Corporate Communications, at monika.kwiecinska@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, a brochure will be sent to you by e-mail.

European First Responders C3I Market Assessment is part of the Defence Growth Partnership Services programme, which also includes research in the following markets: Network Centric Warfare: A European Market Executive Analysis, European Defence Logistics Market Assessment, European First Responders' C3I Market Assessment, Unmanned Ground Vehicles Market Assessment - Europe, Middle East Land ISR Market Assessment, European Airport Security Market Assessment, Analysis of the Middle East Seaport Security Market, and Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Infrastructure Security Market Assessment. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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European First Responders C3I Market Assessment M453 Contact: Monika Kwiecinska Corporate Communications - Europe P: +48-22-390-4127 F: +48-22-390-4160 E: monika.kwiecinska@frost.com

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SOURCE: Frost SOURCE: Sullivan

CONTACT: Monika Kwiecinska, Corporate Communications - Europe of Frost Sullivan, +48-22-390-4127, fax, +48-22-390-4160,monika.kwiecinska@frost.com