ASTRID TETRA upgraded by Airbus

Government approval has been granted for ASTRID to modernise its TETRA network in Belgium over the next few years.

Airbus will work with the operator to upgrade its secure radiocommunication networks, infrastructure and services.

The corresponding management and investment plan, in place until 2020, was approved by the Belgian government and ASTRID’s Administrative Council in December 2016.

The government intends to offer a high-quality service and to safeguard the network’s capacity as well as its reliability. The investment plan covers the upgrade and the reinforcement of the current ASTRID TETRA network. The first steps of the network upgrade have already been initiated and the implementation will be intensified in the next few years.

Since the inception of the nationwide ASTRID network for public safety in 1998, Airbus has closely cooperated with the operator. The company has helped to strengthen crucial components of the ASTRID core network by providing efficient system management.

“Based on close and trustful cooperation in the past, ASTRID and Airbus continue to work together to achieve the best outcome for end users in Belgium,” Airbus Head of Secure Land Communications Olivier Koczan said.

More than 50,000 users communicate securely via ASTRID’s TETRA network. These users include, for instance, police, rescue services, firefighters and coastguards. In addition, ASTRID serves several utility and transport companies.

The upgrades will cost up to €117 million.

Image courtesy of ASTRID.

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