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Motorola and Nokia have conducted cross border group call between TETRA networks
December 12, 2001
The "three-country" pilot to be conducted in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands is the first step towards the deployment of ISI interoperability.
Nice, 12th December 2001.Nokia and Motorola are making use of TETRA technology to enable Professional Mobile Radio users to communicate efficiently with each other across borders and systems in a pilot involving Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The pilot uses a TETRA network connection based on a general four-wire interface.
Provisioning agreements between Public Safety network operators enable subscribers to use network services provided by their neighbouring partners when travelling across borders. Even more essentially, the TETRA network connection enables users to conduct demanding multi-organisation operations in spite of network boundaries.
The Motorola and Nokia solution will enable TETRA Network operators to provide voice group communication by cross-connecting "talk groups" over the boundaries of TETRA networks and vendors. Users with TETRA terminals visiting a neighbouring country will be in continuous contact with their colleagues on both sides of the border, as well as, being in communications with their Command and Control Centers.
The TETRA network connection solution has been developed, made field deployable and tested across international borders to support the first phases of the three-country TETRA pilot program between Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The goals of the program are to confirm the operational benefit of cross-border use, to provide a platform for operational staff in the three countries in order to gain experience on multi-vendor cross-border communication, and to ratify the Schengen agreement on using TETRA as the communication standard for cross-border communication in Europe.
In Germany, the Aachen Pilot System became operational in July 2001, and is being used by five Public Safety organisations. In Belgium, the National public safety network, ASTRID, has been operational since June 2001 and will cover the Belgian side of the border areas from the middle of 2002. On the Dutch border - the C2000 system - which recently received approval for nationwide rollout, will provide coverage within the same timeframe.
After the experience from the three-country pilot, the participant organisations and TETRA manufactures will be better prepared to develop the TETRA ISI (Inter System Interface). The TETRA MoU Technical Forum is detailing the ISI standardisation work developed by ETSI, specifically by enabling network-interoperability of circuit and IP switched technology into the standard. The result of the TETRA MoU work will be published in TETRA Interoperability Profiles (TIP).
"It is good to see the industry working together to allow group communication over the TETRA network boundary. It is truly a major step towards efficient cross-border communication and operation in the Europe of free movement" says Chris Drieskens, the Technical Director of ASTRID.
"After the Enschede disaster there is no doubt that cross-border communication fulfilling the Schengen agreement requirements is needed." continues Hans Borgonjen Manager in ITO.
"Nokia believes the TETRA network connection solution provides useful experience for both the user organisations and TETRA manufacturers on cross-border user operation, thus enabling faster and better suited implementation of ISI functionality" says Kari Suneli, Senior Vice President, Nokia Networks.
Bill Spencer, Senior Vice President, Motorola adds, "We have been very pleased with our trial in Aachen, and we now look forward to implementing the three-country pilot. When talking with our customers we know there is a strong desire for interoperability. Fast reliable and resilient communications are needed across all borders whether they be county or country."
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2000 were $37.6 billion. Motorola's Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS) provides mission-critical and enterprise communication solutions for work teams in market segments where Motorola has always been strong -- from public safety and government to transportation and commercial enterprises. Solutions from CGISS satisfy unique needs for immediate access to information, one-to-many and group communications, customized coverage areas and call connection at the press of a button. Motorola has an extensive TETRA client base in Europe and beyond. Motorola has recently launched their TETRA IP network, which is in already in operational use in Germany.
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.
Nokia has a proven track record in supplying TETRA networks and terminals globally, offering the most modern countrywide digital radio communication solutions for public safety organizations. Special features particularly for the use of public authorities include: top-class communication security, fast group calls, sophisticated emergency call functionality, prioritized calls, advanced messaging and data communication services, including IP packet data.
Further information:
Nokia
Communications Department
Tel. + 358 7180 38195
Email nokia.networks@nokia.com
www.nokia.com/public_safety
Motorola
Suzanne McDermott
Motorola
Phone: 44 1256 484505
Email: Suzanne.McDermott@Motorola.com
www.motorola.com/tetra
Further information on TETRA at:
TETRA MoU: www.tetramou.com
More information on the 3- Country Pilot available at
www.astrid.be
www.ito.nl
www.pilotprojekt-digitalfunk-aachen.de
Notes for the editor:
Three-country pilot
The Belgian, Dutch and German Public Safety radio communications organisations have recently established a joint project to prepare and conduct testing of cross-border communication of law enforcement and rescue forces using the TETRA radio networks being deployed in the three countries.
The pilot program serves multiple aims; the pilot will confirm the operational benefit of cross-border use of TETRA technology; it will serve as a platform for the operational staff in the three countries to experience the new world of real multi-vendor cross-border capability; and it will ratify the Schengen agreement on using TETRA as the communication standard for European cross-border communication. The pilot project is expected to last for a number of years to allow the required changes in national legislation and local operation procedures to take full benefit of this possibility.
Motorola and Nokia have confirmed to the three-country project Steering Committee their willingness to support the cross-border pilot by supporting their installation between the three networks. In order to obtain operation experience as soon as possible, a TETRA network connection will be installed first to enable visiting users to communicate via their neighbouring country's system. This will allow them to stay in continuous contact with their colleagues on both sides of the border, as well as their home control center.
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