Emergency services get dedicated mobile 3G network

Belgium’s emergency and security services (including police forces, the fire brigade, civil defence and customs) will be equipped with their first dedicated and secure mobile 3G network. A five-year contract has been awarded to Astrium, an EADS company, who will equip  the country’s local and federal police forces, its fire brigade, civil defence teams, customs, state security, national defence and air and sea rescue services, and some of its hospitals and ambulance services, with the Blue Light Mobile system. The system, expected to be implemented from early 2014, will allow all security forces to exchange vital information during missions on the ground: enhanced mapping of selected areas; real time videos and pictures; and access to state security files and databases. Thanks to this private, secure mobile virtual network, Belgium’s security services will be able to exchange data on smartphones, tablets and computers on operations. Astrium’s customers include some of the world’s most advanced armed forces (the USA, the UK, France, Germany and NATO) as well as the French, British and now Belgian security forces.