Police call for more speed
03.05.2011, 14:19
“Data transfer is an enormous challenge. I am amazed at how well VIRVE works for data transfer,” says Chief Inspector Antti Jeronen from the Ministry of the Interior.
The Police are testing the use of TEDS on the test network of State Security Networks Ltd, which would enable faster data transfer in the VIRVE network than is possible today. Jeronen feels that commercial alternatives are also needed.
“We need to have various data transfer alternatives, so that non-critical data can be transferred without burdening VIRVE,” Jeronen says.
“One of the commercial alternatives is the @450 network, which has a geographical coverage that is clearly better than those of 3G and 4G networks. Since data transfer networks are vulnerable, the authorities will nevertheless need secure data transfer capability, such as TEDS,” Jeronen points out.
Prioritisation is essential: different types of data could be transferred on different networks. VIRVE will continue to be used by the Police primarily for voice communications.
“The data connections used by the Police will remain encrypted. Personal details will not be transferred over commercial networks,” Jeronen says.
The Police currently use several data applications, and the aim is to merge them. Jeronen wonders whether direct channel functions could be used in emergency situations, and a local area network set up for transferring data between authorities.
“It is not sensible to have various actors downloading the same data several times over. The rescue department could retrieve a map image using VIRVE or another network and then send it to police patrols using a temporary local area network,” says Jeronen, pointing out that despite the extensive coverage of the onboard VIRVE radios, handheld VIRVE radios do not work everywhere.
“Instead of focusing on network coverage, should we further investigate the use of direct channel functions for extraordinary situations? Vehicles could be fitted with repeaters with a range of a few kilometres; this would allow information to be relayed without base stations. The technology already exists, but this is an aspect of VIRVE usage that is yet to be implemented,” Jeronen says. “Data transfer is the most challenging aspect of such situations.”
He suspects that we will soon reach a situation in which telecommunications connections will be shut down even in areas where people still live. TEDS would promote equal access to help, regardless of municipal boundaries. Access to help cannot depend on whether a commercial network is operational in the area or not.
“State Security Networks will continue to play an important role. The authorities need dedicated operator support that is reliable and secure and not under foreign ownership.
VIRVE News 2011
Text: Timo Hämäläinen