The Mission Critical Technology Trends overview by Erillisverkot Group explains why the authorities´ transitions to the 5G era is taking so long. The communication and information retrieval needs of authorities fundamentally do not differ from consumer usage, but the mission critical operating environment imposes special requirements on technology. The latest review focused on 5G technology also presents the opportunities that 5G technology offers for Finland´s next generation mission critical Virve services.
The broadband Virve 2 services will soon upgrade the communications of the authorities and other security operators into the new millennium. The services are currently being tested, and the deployment is about to begin as a collaborative effort – now on a new schedule that supports customer migration.
The new broadband Virve service for public safety operators is being built carefully and in stages. “We have made excellent progress, as a large part of the work has already been done. The situation could be compared to a building that already has foundations, walls and a roof – at this stage it already looks like a house,” says Ari Toivonen, Development Manager at Erillisverkot.
The first Top Tech Trends survey of Erillisverkot concentrates in particular on the future technology opportunities of the authorities and security operators. In the autumn 2021 survey, the focus is on convergence of technologies, 5G, cloud technologies and artificial intelligence and satellites.
Erillisverkot starts procurement of 3GPP compliant 4G/5G end user devices to be used in Virve 2.0 service. Procurement will be done by using a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).
Finnish authorities’ communications will gradually move towards the broadband and mobile era in the 2020s. The next generation broadband Virve service is an entity coming together like a jigsaw puzzle in collaboration with its users. How is the project coming along?
The biggest benefits of 5G will not be visible on your mobile phone screen but, in transport, energy production and emergency services, for example, wrotes Antti Kauppinen, CTO at Erillisverkot Group.
An important milestone was reached in the Virve 2.0 project on February 18th, 2021. This is when it became possible to test the connection between the core systems provided by Ericsson, and the radio access network provided by Elisa.
New opportunities open for safety operators as the Virve 2.0 public safety network begins using Elisa’s broadband 4G and 5G mobile networks. Future applications that can help rescue services and actors critical for the security of supply in the field include remote-controlled tractors used in clearing work and real-time video transmitted by drones. The first testers will begin using Virve 2.0 at the end of 2021.
The Swedish company Ericsson has centred its cyber security operations on the area of Jorvas in Kirkkonummi, Finland. Ericsson’s experts are also responsible for the reliability and security of the new Virve 2.0 broadband public safety network.
The development work concerning the broadband public safety network Virve 2.0, which is led by Erillisverkot Group is one of the most important governmental ICT project in the near future. Virve 2.0 is also a major leap at the international scale, since it makes mobile broadband services available for authorities in cooperation with the newly selected commercial partners.
Erillisverkot will acquire the broadband Virve 2.0 radio access network as a service from Elisa and the core systems from Ericsson. With this procurement, Erillisverkot will ensure the continuity of critical communications and operational capability of public safety in all situations in the future.
