Technology available any time, offering secure dissemination of information
PMRExpo’17, an exhibition for professional mobile radio and control rooms, opened today with a bundle of new technologies available for government, local authorities, police, as well as emergency and disaster relief organisations. Within the framework of public security, one aspect attracted the interest of visitors – broadband professional mobile networks. They are designed as “mission critical” elements for the plethora of measures in case of disaster response, medical evacuation, counter-terror, and other security operations in both urban spaces and remote areas. Broadband communication networks are “the glue that holds together certain elements of authorities”, down to the individual first responder.
Another key aspect of the exhibition, narrowband communication, was described by Dr Dietmar Gollnick, CEO of e*Message Wireless Information Services GmbH, as technology that is available at any time, offering secure dissemination of text information in a fully independent manner. Secure means that the network is immune against intervention and manipulation undertaken by external actors, e.g. cyber attacks. Dr Gollnick told S&SI in an interview that modern narrowband technology is to be embedded in security and emergency operations to connect with communication devices of individuals and teams, with the aim of sharing first-hand, mission-critical information, warning of potential hazards and threats, or submitting directives for security measures directly from the HQ. The company’s satellite-based mobile communication network in Germany is made up of narrowband technology, presently consisting of 800 transmitter stations, in addition to some additional 400 sites in France, which are being operated by its French sister organisation.
Dr Gollnick expects growing demand for specialised narrowband messaging services in other countries in Europe. He claims that designing and operating a sophisticated messaging service requires full practical understanding of the measures needed in response of incidents.
Stefan Nitschke
