TETRA BOS digital radio network in Germany

TETRA BOS digital radio network in Germany

On 24th November 2009 the BSI (The German Federal Office for Information Security) announced further progress regarding the establishment and usage of the TETRA BOS digital radio network in Germany. BSI announced the German 7 layers AG as the first official test house and IT-Security Service Provider for all end-products used within the BOS digital radio network. Thomas Jaeger received the official documentation during the exhibition “Moderner Staat 2009” in Berlin from Bernd Kowalski (leader of the Department 3 of the BSI). (Mr Doring, second from the left, is the technical department leader of the BDBOS)

The TETRA BOS digital radio network is being established by the BDBOS (Federal Agency for Digital Radio and Security Authorities and Organizations) in order to provide a nationwide digital voice and data communications network for all security authorities and organizations within the Federal Republic of Germany. Currently the network is being established and several federal states have started using the new network for their police forces, rescue services, fire brigades etc. already.

Due to the nature of this service the reliability and interoperability of both fixed and mobile terminal equipment that comes into use within the network is of immense importance. It is therefore mandatory that all products which come into use within the BOS digital network have to be tested by ISO17025 BSI IT-Security Service Provider. Currently 7 layers AG is the only test house in Germany that fulfills these requirements. The end-product certification will be granted by the BDBOS based on German law. (We will publish a joint press release on this matter and are currently awaiting the approval of the BSI.)