State Security Networks Ltd., operator of the Finnish VIRVE network, and EADS Defence & Security (DS) have joined forces to start testing the TETRA Enhanced Data Service (TEDS) as of May 2010. The work will be conducted on a test network with the same characteristics as the live VIRVE authority network, apart from the TEDS-capable software.
Finland pioneered the adoption of TETRA technology in everyday use in the late 1990s and TEDS is the high-speed data evolution of the TETRA radio communication standard. A TEDS-capable TETRA network will provide significantly faster data services than today’s TETRA networks without compromising any of the technology’s high security or coverage capabilities. TEDS is claimed to be the most cost-effective way to introduce wide area high-speed capability for TETRA users.
Finnish Police are looking forward to enhancing their efficiency with increased use of secure data.
EADS Defence & Security was the first vendor to demonstrate TEDS in June 2007 and has continued to develop the software in order to run the system on existing EADS TETRA hardware as well as developing TEDS-capable TETRA radios. System elements and trial terminals for the VIRVE test network will be delivered in April/May this year.
“Public authorities need high-speed data capabilities in their radio communication networks to enhance their field operations,” said Dirk Borchardt, Head of Security and Communication Solutions at EADS DS. “They also need high speed data to be reliable, secure and available over a wide area. TEDS can meet these strict requirements.”