A consortium lead by Saab and consisting of Nokia, Eltel Networks and Saab recently won the contract to supply the RAKEL (Radiocommunications for Effective Management) TETRA network system to the Swedish Public Safety Authorities (KBM).
With increasing demands for fast, secure and versatile communications between individual units, groups and command and control centres, KBM’s award to upgrade the existing analogue network to a digital network reflects an ongoing movement within Europe. Participants in the RAKEL system include: police, coast guard, customs, emergency healthcare and ambulance service, armed forces plus local and regional crisis management teams.
ATDI were approached by Saab to provide multiple Libra™ test and measurement systems. The Libra™ survey system will serve two purposes. Firstly, to obtain a baseline of existing coverage currently served from the analogue system. This baseline will be used as a benchmark to ensure that the new digital system at least meets previous coverage levels. Secondly, the Libra™ system will be used to model the new digital network and check predictions generated from Saab’s radio prediction tool. Verification of model settings and parameters will provide increased confidence in predictions used to plan the national network.
On completion of the project, the Libra™ systems, along with Saab’s radio prediction software, will be handed over to Swedish Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) who is responsible for the ongoing operation, maintenance and development of the network. The Libra™ survey systems will prove an effective maintenance and development tool for the network.
As Lee Shanks, Senior Radiocommunications Engineer with ATDI, commented, “We’re very pleased to be suppliers to Saab in their TETRA network supply. This adds to all our other activities in this market to show a complete network modelling, planning and measurement competence and associated toolset.”