Savvy Scandinavians secure safety systems synergy success

Swedish and Norwegian emergency services personnel can now communicate across each other’s national TETRA networks.

In a demonstration of the way in which positive international cooperation can be achieved, the national emergency radio networks of Sweden and Norway have been made cross-border interoperable through the implementation of a TETRA Inter-System Interface (ISI) system.

The EU-funded effort, known as the Inter-System Interoperability for TETRA-TETRApol Networks (ISITEP) project, means that operators on the Sweden’s Rakel and Norway’s Nødnett TETRA networks can communicate with each other along the two countries’ 1619 km-long land border.

The ISI project began almost three years ago and culminated in several tests during 2016, including a final one on 16 November. In the latter trial, emergency services operators gathered in the towns of Meråker (Norway) and Storlien (Sweden) to put the system to the test.

During development, the ISITEP group comprised 15 companies and academic institutions from 10 countries, with additional involvement from the TETRA and Critical Communications Association. The EU provided €10 million in funding.

The project has involved considering and delivering:

• legal aspects and templates for agreements
• performance requirements linked to scenarios and collaboration
• voice group structure and numbering
• analysis and preparation of methods for collaboration
• training and instruction
• planning and implementation of exercises
• production of handbooks/guidelines for cross-border collaboration.

Now that the testing phase has been completed and all technical requirements have been met, the system will be ready for binational operational use in early 2017 with the following functionalities:

• Terminals can be registered and function in both networks.
• Group calls can be made with participants from both countries.
• International voice groups can be created.
• One-to-one calls can be made across national borders.
• Individual and group SDS (text messages) can be sent across national borders.
• Emergency calls can be made across national borders.
• Complete authentication and encryption will be assured.
• Outgoing calls can be made to the telephone network, irrespective of country.

The ISI system was put to the test during a cross-border exercise on 16 November 2016.

The system’s users are enthusiastic about its possibilities.

“ISI is expected to contribute to better collaboration and communication where different actors need to be involved in a cross-border response,” said Mikael Abbemo, project leader at Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare. “We want to act both more rapidly and more effectively.”

“We look forward to use our own technical equipment in one another’s network,” added Teith Kyrre Dalsrud of the Norwegian National Police Directorate. “This will significantly facilitate collaboration.”

“As owner of Nødnett, DNK is proud to take part in the work towards a standard solution for future ISI projects,” said Tor Helge Lyngstøl, director of DNK. “We have considered cross-border functionality as a natural part of Nødnett for a long time. This project is exciting as it involves not only the technical challenges, but also the alignment of two nations’ and three agencies’ routines and procedures in our two countries.”

“We have understood that from a European perspective our working method is unique. Instead of focusing on the technology, we identify the real communication needs that the actors on behalf of the stakeholders perceive in their day-to-day work in our border districts,” added Marianne Storrøsten, DNK’s project manager.

“One great success factor in the whole project is that we have involved the end users from the start in several work groups during the whole process,” said Minna Nyman, head of the Rakel department at MSB. “We focus on user requirements in everyday situations, as well as preparing for crisis situations, and strive towards making sure not only that the technology is in place but also methods and terminology.”

History of Rakel and Nødnett

Rakel, Sweden’s national TETRA digital communications system, is used by the country’s emergency services, civil protection and other public safety agencies, medical and healthcare services, local authorities, coastguard, customs, armed forces and utilities.

The decision to build the network was made in 2003 by the Swedish parliament, with the aim of replacing more than 200 separate radio systems. The network covers the country’s entire landmass and is based on Airbus Defence and Space infrastructure. Operated by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), it has more than 67,000 users among almost 500 organisations. The system has been fully operational since 2011.

Nødnett is Norway’s national TETRA digital communications system and is used by the country’s emergency, civil defence and search and rescue authorities. The network is based on Motorola Solutions’ technology and is operated by the Norwegian Directorate for Emergency Communication (DNK). It has replaced almost 300 separate radio systems.

The contract for Nødnett was awarded to Nokia Siemens Networks in 2006 but the company was unable to complete the project, whereupon Motorola took over in 2012. Its project partners were Frequentis, Telenor and Broadnet.

Operational in mainland Norway since December 2015, the network has 330 emergency call centres connected by 2170 base stations. It is used by more than 45,000 users and required 20,000 km of new microwave backhaul. Its coverage includes 310 road tunnels spanning more than 750 km.

In mid-2015, the DNK also awarded Motorola a contract to supply its WAVE PTT platform for a six-month test using smartphones/tablets and commercial carriers.

“Weather events and challenges to public safety do not recognise national borders,” said Manuel Torres, senior vice president and general manager for Europe, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean region, Motorola Solutions. “As the prime contractor for Nødnett, Norway’s nationwide TETRA network, Motorola Solutions continues to provide its experience, expertise and commitment to equipping public safety agencies with the very best in interoperable, standards-based, mission-critical communications, regardless of whatever country they call home.”

“We are delighted to have worked intensively for the cross-border communication solutions between Sweden and Norway,” said Hans Holmberg, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space Oy. “Interest in authority organisation cooperation across borders in clearly increasing in Europe and even globally, and the solution being implemented between Sweden and Norway serves as a great milestone in this evolution. Through this project we have gained significant insight on the specific requirements of user organisations matters in setting up a sophisticated cross-border communication solution, and we’re able to develop even more advanced solutions in the future.”

Images courtesy DNK and MSB