Scope
Reference
ICT15052
Description
**Note: This is a duplicate UK7 Notice which was published on the 29 January 2026, 9:01am. This notice includes the redacted contract as the only change.**
London Underground Limited (LUL) (a subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL)) awarded a contract (London Underground Radio Contract) to Motorola Solutions UK Limited (Motorola) for the provision of essential hardware and software services in respect of the London Underground digital radio system (LU Radio System). Substantive service provision under the London Underground Radio Contract will not commence until November 2029.
However, LUL requires the London Underground Radio Contract to be entered into in advance of the launch of TfL's Networks and Telecommunications Procurement Project (NTPP) in order to provide continuity and security of service and to support a level playing field for NTPP. NTPP will potentially be based around a three-lot procurement,
comprising:
• Lot 1: Connectivity Services;
• Lot 2: LU Operational Radio; and
• Lot 3: Commoditised Connectivity Services.
(5) LU Operational Radio Contract
A significant proportion of the requirement for the LU Operational Radio contract (Lot 2) is overlaid on the LU Radio System, meaning that this requirement needs to be supported by Motorola through the provision of essential hardware and software support services and updates for its Dimetra product within the LU Radio System. To facilitate a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory competition for the NTPP LU Operational Radio contract, TfL has therefore entered into the London Underground Radio Contract to secure the provision of critical support services for the LU Radio
System beyond the expiry of the current LU Connect contract in November 2029 and to enable the NTPP Lot 2 bidders to prepare their bids based on the same underlying radio system support arrangement.
TfL considers this approach to be the best way of maximising competitive tension for the NTPP Lot 2 procurement and ensuring a level playing field for all bidders. The London Underground Radio Contract will be made available to the Lot 2 bidders during the
procurement for this purpose. The London Underground Radio Contract may then be novated to the successful Lot 2 bidder (at which point it will become a sub-contract to the 'prime' contract between the successful Lot 2 bidder and TfL), or the successful Lot 2 bidder may be appointed by TfL to act as TfL's managing agent.
Further details were set out in the London Underground Radio Contract Transparency Notice (Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-051c34 ).
Contract 2
Supplier
Contract value
- £147,935,197 excluding VAT
- £177,522,236 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Date signed
23 December 2025
Contract dates
- 21 November 2029 to 31 December 2035
- Possible extension to 20 November 2040
- 11 years
Description of possible extension:
The London Underground Radio Contract commenced on 23 December 2025, although substantive service provision will not start until the existing Connect Contract has expired and services under the LU Operational Radio Contract have commenced, anticipated to be November 2029.
TfL can extend the London Underground Radio Contract for further extension periods.
The relevant periods that make up the contract term are described below.
From contract signature of the London Underground Radio Contract until commencement of the Initial NTPP Motorola Term, there will be a transitional period known as the Pre NTPP Term during which Motorola will not be providing substantive services, but will be required to support TfL's procurement of the wider NTPP services. This is expected to last from date the London Underground Radio Contract is signed until the commencement of the LU Operational Radio Contract following the conclusion of the NTPP procurement.
When TfL enters into the LU Operational Radio Contract, the Pre-NTPP Term under the London Underground Radio Contract will end and what is known as the Initial NTPP Motorola Term will begin. Initially, this will involve transitional activities under both contracts in advance of taking over services from the Connect Contract before live services commence under the LU Operational Radio Contract. November 2029 is the current estimate for when this will happen, but this may be revised in due course.
The Initial NTPP Motorola Term will then last until the date which is 6 years from the date on which live services commence under the LU Operational Radio Contract, subject to the
Initial NTPP Motorola Term not going beyond 31 December 2035.
TfL then has the following rights to extend the term of the London Underground Radio Contract:
• First NTPP Extension Period: 24 months immediately following the end of the Initial
NTPP Motorola Term.
• Second NTPP Extension Period: 24 months immediately following the end of the First
NTPP Extension Period.
• Final NTPP Extension Period: 12 months immediately following the end of the Second
NTPP Extension Period.
However, no extension period can go beyond an agreed longstop date of November 2040, unless the parties agree otherwise by way of variation. Other than the longstop date, TfL's right to extend the London Underground Radio Contract is not subject to any particular restrictions or requirements, save as to notice periods. TfL anticipates that the reasons for which it may elect to extend the London Underground Radio Contract will be connected to the availability of alternative technologies and systems to TETRA radio, and the time, cost and risks associated with testing and deploying such an alternative.
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The London Underground Radio Contract contemplates Motorola offering upgrades to the Dimetra system via an upgrade projects regime. This enables LUL to remain on in-support versions of Dimetra and to address the impact of changes to LUL's network and the type and quantities of radio equipment needed to ensure safe, compatible and secure support for LU's operations.
CPV classifications
- 64000000 - Postal and telecommunications services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Key performance indicators
| Name | Reporting frequency |
|---|---|
| Fault Response Times | 1 months |
| Remote Restoration Times | 1 months |
| Performance Regime Reporting | 1 months |
Signed contract documents
NTPP_Motorola_Contract_(Executed)(125283102.1)_Redacted (3 Feb 2026).pdf
Redacted contract
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
- Single supplier - technical reasons
The London Underground Radio Contract is a direct award under section 41 and Schedule 5 Procurement Act 2023.
This is on the basis that only Motorola can supply the services required due to the following conditions being met:
Schedule 5, Paragraph 5
(a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required; and
(b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.
Schedule 5, Paragraph 6
(a) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required; and
(b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.
(2) Direct Award - Justifications
(i) Intellectual Property/Technical Reasons
The TETRA radio system used in the Connect System
is supplied by Motorola using its proprietary Dimetra product and is critical to the operation of the LU railway. Without a fully supported radio system it would not be possible to ensure the safe, secure, and reliable operation of the LU railway.
As owner of the intellectual property rights in the Dimetra product, only Motorola can provide the necessary OEM-level maintenance support and software upgrades of the Dimetra product in order to ensure continuity and safe operational service from the LU Radio System.
(ii) No Reasonable Alternatives
TfL has carried out a detailed review of alternatives to using a TETRA-based system, including FRMCS (5G) and MCX over MNO (4G/5G).
That review has concluded that (1) the currently available alternative radio technologies are not suitable replacements to TETRA-based technology, (2) a suitable replacement technology to TETRA and TETRA-based systems such as Dimetra is at least a decade away, (3) it is not feasible to replace Motorola's Dimetra system with an alternative TETRA-based system, and (4) once available, migration away from Dimetra/TETRA based systems to an alternative would take several years to complete, during which LU must retain full use of Dimetra to maintain safe and reliable operations.
There are no drop-in replacements for the current Dimetra-based radio system. Each LU train is equipped with a bespoke Dimetra train radio unit, designed to meet specific requirements including electrical compatibility, integration with LU's power supply voltages, physical constraints, and data and control interface requirements.
The LU Radio System also uses a bespoke dispatcher sub-system that is tailored to provide the essential user interface for LU radio dispatchers, and any future replacement radio system would also require such customisations which, due to their safety criticality, will require extensive development and testing.
When one is available, the effort, risk and cost of migrating to an alternative technology would be substantial, both in terms of capital expenditure and operational risk. It would also take several years to complete, during which LU must retain full use of Dimetra to maintain safe and reliable operations. This reinforces the need for continued investment in Dimetra and long-term support from Motorola.
Additionally, compliance with the Security of Network & Information Systems Regulations (NIS Regulations) requires that the LU radio system receive vendor support such as cyber
security vulnerability updates and, whilst the system remains on Dimetra, that Motorola support is critical.
Therefore, TfL considers that it can directly award the London Underground Radio Contract under paragraph 5 (and/or under paragraph 6) of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that due to its intellectual property rights in the Dimetra product and/or because of technical reasons related to the nature of the Dimetra product, only Motorola can provide and deliver the necessary services and works required to support the LU Radio System and there are no reasonable alternatives to the Dimetra product or the works and services required to support that product.
Supplier
MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS UK LIMITED
- Companies House: 00912182
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQTV-4329-ZDPL
Nova South
London
SW1E 5LB
United Kingdom
Email: fergus.mayne@motorolasolutions.com
Website: https://www.motorolasolutions.com/
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 2
Contracting authority
Transport for London
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHMT-6197-NWNZ
5 Endeavour Square
London
E20 1JN
United Kingdom
Email: ntppcommercial@tfl.gov.uk
Region: UKI41 - Hackney and Newham
Organisation type: Public authority - central government