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Nokia wins the world's first nationwide TETRA contract for the public safety and security sector
December 12, 1997
Nokia and the Finnish Ministry of the Interior, have signed an agreement for the supply of a nationwide digital TETRA network, valued at over 400 MFIM. The network will provide services for the police, emergency and rescue services, the Frontier Guard and other government users throughout Finland. Deliveries including Nokia TETRA switches, base stations, dispatcher workstations and terminals for the initial network phase will begin at the beginning of 1998. The network will have nationwide coverage by the end of 2002.
Nokia won this contract after tough international competition. The TETRA standard is the one and only European standard for digital Professional Mobile Radio.
"This network will take care of service provision for the most important security and emergency services in Finland," states Mr Jan-Erik Enestam, Minister of the Interior. "Using the TETRA system, we have a wide range of reliable and versatile services, which existing commercial radio systems cannot provide. The nature of the emergency services means that we need a clear communication channel at all times, and this is exactly what we have with this network."
"This is the first TETRA implementation contract for the public safety and security sector awarded in the world. As the world-leader in TETRA technology, Nokia is proud to have won this milestone agreement", states Mr Tapio Heikkilä, Vice President and General Manager, Professional Mobile Radio, Nokia. "This is a remarkably important reference for Nokia, as the technology and service requirements set by the Finnish authorities are extremely tough. By awarding this contract to Nokia, it is clear that the Ministry of the Interior trusts our competencies and capabilities in the field of TETRA technology."
The world's first commercial TETRA network in use was the Helsinki City Energy Company network, also supplied by Nokia. The first call was made in this network in September 1997. Nokia's other TETRA customers include Tele Denmark and the Dutch Police as well as ElTele Öst in Norway. In Britain, Nokia is participating in the Quadrant Consortium, which is designing and planning the new digital radio service for use by all the country's emergency services.
Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) is the only open digital trunked radio standard defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to meet the needs of the most demanding professional mobile radio users. A large group of European user and manufacturer organisations have participated in the definition of the standard. The TETRA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was established in December 1994, as a forum to represent the interests of all parties in TETRA, including users, manufacturers, operators, test houses and telecom agencies. Today the TETRA MoU represents 68 companies from 14 countries world-wide. According to estimates, TETRA-based systems will have 5-10 million users by year 2010.
Further information:
Ms Arja Suominen, Vice President, Communications
Nokia Telecommunications
Tel. (Int.) + 358 9 5113 8193
Fax (Int.) + 358 9 5113 8200
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