Placing the last piece of the puzzle for a complete European cross-border communications solution
TETRA Association
Placing the last piece of the puzzle for a complete European cross-border communications solution
TWC 2005, Frankfurt: The goal of the Schengen Telecom group of a harmonised solution for Public Safety communications in Europe is close to being fully achieved. Their vision is for a freedom of communication for all Public Safety Services (PSS) – police in cross border pursuit or other emergency organisations such as Fire and Rescue, Ambulance and Medical services attending a natural disaster.
Hans Borgonjen, TETRA Association Board member and one of the founder members of the combined group of European Public Safety communications officers who have been helping to turn the Schengen vision into a reality, commented that, “Germany is very close to a momentous Public Safety communications decision. Their choice of a new communications technology will be a significant step to completing the harmonisation we are all hoping for.”
TETRA has been deployed for PSS use in almost all European countries in the 380-400 MHz frequency band. Germany, the largest and most highly populated country in Europe is one of the last to make its PSS communications decision for a national network. It has already stated in the invitation to tender documentation that the network’s technology should be based on the TETRA standard or a comparable technology.
Germany’s central role for PSS communications in Europe
Germany’s geographical position at the centre of Europe, along with its size and number of inhabitants, self-evidently makes it highly important as far as cross-border PSS communications is concerned. The milestones set this year for building a national public safety network are strongly welcomed.
Mr Borgonjen demonstrated the strong support of the political parties of the CDU and SPD coalition to this new national communications network with reference to a quote directly from the coalition agreement showing the commitment to push forward the plans for building Germany’s new public safety network.
- “In order to improve PSS communications capabilities we will push the introduction of a digital network (“Einfhrung des Digitalfunks”) in coordination with the federal states and within the framework of the selected operator model. It must be our goal to provide nationwide coverage, a universal standard and a fair cost-splitting between Federal Government and the federal states”.
The goals of the original Schengen Telecom group have not changed. Their vision of integrated, multi-user shared networks that cross borders and give emergency service users the lifeline they need when dealing with major incidents has been implemented in many countries in Europe.
Hans concluded that the picture puzzle has most of its pieces already set out across Europe forming a strong and coherent map of TETRA users. He added, “Just one or two gaps remain. The pieces have been identified and the best way to achieve the solution is clear – TETRA. It just remains to put them into place.”
Contacts:
TETRA MoU Association
Bob Lovett, Press & Communications Officer
tel: +44 (0)1962 736734
mob: +44 (0)7860 509337
bob_lovett@btinternet.com
John Cox, Chief Executive Officer
tel: +44 (0)1480 370640
john.cox@tetramou.com