Erillisverkot starts procurement of 3GPP compliant 4G/5G end user devices to be used in Virve 2.0 service. Procurement will be done by using a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).
Press Release, London and Helsinki, 2 June 2021 – OneWeb, the global communications network powered from Space, invited representatives from across the Finnish Government agencies to observe a demonstration of OneWeb’s Global Connectivity service for the first time. Run in partnership with Finland’s state-run security network provider, Erillisverkot Group, the event demonstrated how OneWeb’s constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites is suited to supporting the operational requirements of multiple government agencies in the High North and Arctic Circle.
Finnish authorities’ communications will gradually move towards the broadband and mobile era in the 2020s. The next generation broadband Virve service is an entity coming together like a jigsaw puzzle in collaboration with its users. How is the project coming along?
The biggest benefits of 5G will not be visible on your mobile phone screen but, in transport, energy production and emergency services, for example, wrotes Antti Kauppinen, CTO at Erillisverkot Group.
Erillisverkot has published a summary of findings based on the Request for Information (RFI) on Virve 2.0 end user devices in September 2020. The summary is compiled of the received responses and related follow-up discussions.
An important milestone was reached in the Virve 2.0 project on February 18th, 2021. This is when it became possible to test the connection between the core systems provided by Ericsson, and the radio access network provided by Elisa.
Erillisverkot has taken decisive steps to ensure the Virve 2.0 development project can be delivered as planned by postponing the procurement of application services to 2024. This will secure the services relied upon by our public safety in their daily line of duty during migration from the current Virve network to the Virve 2.0 mobile broadband services.
Erillisverkot Group and Airbus Secure Land Communications (SLC) have entered into a renewed Virve maintenance agreement until 2025. The agreement is a continuation of previous maintenance agreements and covers switching and base station technology as well as application maintenance and support services.
By 2024, Finland will start using Galileo PRS (Public Regulated Services), a location and time information service that fulfills the requirements for public safety actors. Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom is responsible for the service. Erillisverkot acts as a Galileo PRS operator.
Being able to offer suitable mobile devices to Er-illisverkot and its public safety users is a crucial part of the Virve 2.0 development project in Finland. To learn more about the device suppliers’ current offerings and near time plans Erillisverkot published a Request for Information (RFI) in September.
The second procurement phase of the public safety network Virve's renewal started in early October, in which Erillisverkot will purchase mission critical services for the Virve 2.0 system. “Mission critical services is an entity that consists of server software running in the equipment rooms of Erillisverkot Group, applications installed on users' mobile and fixed devices and management applications related to these services," says Ari Toivonen, Development Manager of Erillisverkot Group.
The new broadband public safety network, Virve 2.0, will be available to mission critical operators in 2023. Reetta Siltasalmi-Kautto, our Service Designer and Harri Virtanen, Head of Department of Customer Relationships explain how the development is carried out in cooperation with our customers.
