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.
Erillisverkot Group and Airbus Secure Land Communications (SLC) have entered into a renewed Virve maintenance agreement until 2025. The agreement is a continuation of previous maintenance agreements and covers switching and base station technology as well as application maintenance and support services.
By 2024, Finland will start using Galileo PRS (Public Regulated Services), a location and time information service that fulfills the requirements for public safety actors. Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom is responsible for the service. Erillisverkot acts as a Galileo PRS operator.
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.
