Finnish network to perform world’s first tests of high-speed TETRA data from EADS Defence & Security
Finnish network to perform world’s first tests of high-speed TETRA data from EADS Defence & Security
- First tests of high-speed data over TETRA to start in Finnish network (VIRVE)
- First delivery of TETRA Enhanced Data Service (TEDS) software in April/May 2010
2 March 2010 – EADS Defence & Security have joined forces with State Security Networks Ltd., operator of the Finnish VIRVE network, to start testing the TETRA Enhanced Data Service (TEDS) as of May this year. The work will be conducted on a test network with the same characteristics as the live VIRVE authority network, apart from the TEDS-capable software.
TEDS is the high-speed data evolution of the TETRA radio communication standard. A TEDS-capable TETRA network will provide significantly faster data services than today’s TETRA networks without compromising any of the technology’s high security or coverage capabilities. TEDS is the most cost-effective way to introduce wide area high-speed capability for TETRA users.
EADS Defence & Security was the first vendor to demonstrate TEDS in June 2007 and has continued to develop the software in order to run the system on existing EADS TETRA hardware as well as developing TEDS-capable TETRA radios. System elements and trial terminals for the VIRVE test network will be delivered in April/May this year.
“Public authorities need high-speed data capabilities in their radio communication networks to enhance their field operations,” says Dirk Borchardt, Head of Security & Communication Solutions at EADS Defence & Security. “They also need high-speed data to be reliable, secure, and available over a wide area. TEDS can meet these strict requirements.”
“VIRVE has been on the cutting edge of TETRA ever since the late 1990s, when Finland pioneered the adoption of TETRA technology in everyday use,” says Kimmo Manni, CEO of State Security Networks Ltd. “High-speed data is the natural next step. Our goal is to have a large number of organisations and users testing the new high-speed data functions in action. The testers will have the benefit of using their experience as a basis for developing new operational processes and working methods.”
“Co-operation with real users in lifelike situations to gather feedback is extremely important to ensure that the end-to-end solutions match users’ operational needs. All findings contribute to further design improvements of the EADS TETRA system and TETRA radio terminals,” says Borchardt. “In addition, we can verify the data speeds, determine the actual data capacity increase that TEDS can deliver at short notice, and evaluate what TEDS coverage can be.”
About State Security Networks Ltd
State Security Networks Ltd. operates the world’s first nationwide TETRA network -the VIRVE network – which is jointly used by Finnish authorities including fire and rescue services, the police, the Finnish Defence Forces, the Frontier Guard, social and health services, the Finnish Maritime Administration and different government departments. VIRVE services enable reliable and secure authority communications, and furnish communication networks with new possibilities.
State Security Networks Ltd. is owned by the Finnish Government. In 2009, State Security Networks generated revenue of 27,5 million and had 70 employees. State Security Networks operates nationwide, with its headquarters located in Helsinki..