Nødnett
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www.criticalcomms.com October 2020
She continues: “In Norway we talk about the ‘Nødnett
effect’, which is the positive impact it’s had on our ability
– and willingness – to co-operate and provide a common
picture in the field. I believe that also extends across the
region as a whole, where we have developed what you might
call a ‘culture of co-operation’.”
Learning from the past
The roll-out of any national communications system is
far too big a topic to comprehensively cover in the space
of just three pages. We have barely touched on potential
legislative challenges, for instance, let alone issues around
funding, political context and so on, all of which will
undoubtedly prove just as impactful as the availability of
the technology.
For proof of the latter, we only have to look at the first
Nødnett roll-out, a process which took the best part of 20
years before the network was able to come to full fruition.
With the interview coming to a close, it would be remiss not
to ask how the current process is likely to compare to the
previous one. What needs to be done differently this time
around, and what needs to be retained as an example of
best practice?
“It is true that it took a long time to establish the
nationwide TETRA network for blue-light services in
Norway,” says Myren. “This was mainly due to the length of
the decision process.
“Going back 20 years, there was a lot of focus on
technology in the media, but little discussion on why the
users – and society – needed nationwide, digital radio services.
Even at that time, we had some ‘experts’ stating that TETRA
already was an outdated technology, and that we should use
commercial networks.
“The upshot of that was it took quite a long time for the
initial procurement, which ultimately meant that we had
to roll out the network in two steps. There was another
evaluation and a decision made by parliament between steps
one and two.”
Myren’s belief is that the smooth running of the current
project will likewise depend on both the government and
the population’s faith in the technology (although she hopes
for a different outcome when it comes to timescale). For her,
this has to be instilled by comprehensively documenting the
different options, before subsequently developing a cast-iron
strategy through which to move forward.
She continues: “Another point of difference this time will
be the need to work with the mobile network operators.
When we purchased Nødnett, we owned the frequencies,
something which, as I mentioned, is not a situation that we
find ourselves in this time. That being the case, we will also
have to look very carefully at how the different potential
models affect competition between commercial operators.
None of this is straightforward.”
For Myren, the deployment of national public safety
broadband networks requires the sector to learn “a
whole new language”, in which co-operation is as important
as innovation. Keep reading Critical Communications
Today for the latest on how that language is continuing
to evolve.
Nina Myren will be taking part in Critical
Communications Week, in a variety of sessions. These
include the panel discussion ‘Legal considerations when
planning critical broadband networks,’ as well as ‘Pulling
the future forward.’
She will also be discussing ‘Nordic cross-border
operation’ and communications with colleagues from
Sweden and Finland.
The deployment
of national public
safety broadband
requires that
the sector learn
‘a whole new
language’
Adobe Stock/mariusltu
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