I found this too interesting not to post:

CNET News reports that the emergency response to the July 7, 2005 London bombings was hampered by communications breakdowns.

The recently-released report by the "July 7 Review Committee" indicates that rescue teams were unable to communicate properly between the sites of the explosions underground and with colleagues at ground level.

Communications failures had a direct impact on rescue efforts, with requests for further ambulances, supplies and equipment by London Ambulance Service personnel at the scenes of incidents failing to get through to the main control room. They were also unable to receive instructions as to which hospitals were still receiving patients.

Many emergency managers were forced to rely on already-overloaded mobile phone networks to communicate in the aftermath of the explosions. To this day, emergency workers in London are still not able to communicate by radio when they are underground.

As CNET points out, "The report underscores the notion that there is no point in having the technology to enable key people to communicate with each other if the relevant authorities do not make sure that the right people are in possession of that technology."

Click here to read the entire report.