|
Safety Technologies:
Digitalization brings more services
VIRVE IMPROVES PUBLIC AUTHORITIE'S PERFORMANCE
Finnish safety and security officials have moved to the digital
era within a few years. The basic construction of Finland’s
Public Authority Network (VIRVE), a digital network started
in 1998, was finally completed at the end of 2002.
When the Ministry of the Interior opened the network at the
beginning of 2001, it was unique: a public-authority digital
network designed for use by a large number of organizations.
The network is based on the digital TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked
Radio System) standard and was supplied by Nokia.
The network has 15 centres and more than 1,200 base stations.
It is fully integrated and covers the whole of Finland. The
construction does not, however, end here because improvement
and development will be taking place constantly. The additional
construction will improve the in-building coverage in urban
areas and increase the capacity for base stations as the usage
grows.
More than 100,000 users in 2005
At the end of 2002 there were 12,000 radio terminals on the
network, while at the end of 2003 this figure will be more
than 20,000. In the spring of 2003 there were already 30,000
users and by 2005 the expected number is put at 100,000.
The network is used most by the social and health services
(30%) e.g. in transporting the sick. In second place are the
fire and rescue services and armed services (both 20%). The
police come next (15%). In 2003, however, the biggest users
in operative terms were the Frontier Guard Service and customs.
The network is designed for use mainly by government and
municipal authorities in both everyday activities and exceptional
circumstances. VIRVE replaces the obsolete radio networks,
which were made up of different systems.
Efficiency and new services
The purpose of the new network is to make it possible for
the public safety authorities to perform their designated
tasks with greater efficiency in all situations and for them
to cooperate better with each other. With the new network
came the introduction of new management procedures that improve
the operations.
Compared with earlier systems, the network has three main
advantages: speed, range of use and the security brought by
encryption. Examples of new applications are data bank searches,
and software for localization, routing, measuring and emergencies.
The design and construction took into consideration the high
serviceability requirements in both everyday activities and
exceptional circumstances.
Photo: The use of new search and localization services
on the VIRVE network makes it possible for safety and security
authorities to operate with greater efficiency.
Published 2002
|
.
Finnfacts is part of