In a strategic move to bolster Sweden’s critical communications infrastructure, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has finalized the procurement of a cutting-edge 5G core network from Ericsson.
This development aims to fortify Rakel G2, Sweden’s vital communications network dedicated to public safety, emergency services, and national defense.
The procurement is set to revolutionize collaboration among key stakeholders such as police, fire brigades, emergency medical services, and military organizations. With the implementation of Ericsson’s 5G core network, these entities will gain enhanced situational awareness through secure and rapid sharing of voice, data, images, and video.
Ronny Harpe, Director of Rakel and Command Operating Systems at MSB, emphasized the importance of a robust communications system in bolstering national defense and facilitating seamless collaboration in critical operations.
The integration of Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core network into Sweden’s Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) mission-critical mobile network, Rakel G2, marks a significant milestone in the country’s preparedness for emergencies and crises.
Jenny Lindqvist, Head of Market Area Europe & Latin America at Ericsson, underscored the company’s commitment to supporting MSB’s mission by providing state-of-the-art 5G core technology.
Initially, Ericsson’s 5G core network will complement MSB’s existing national radio communications system, Rakel, which operates on the Tetra standard. Rakel currently serves over 650 organizations, including police, customs, military defense, coast guard, rescue services, and medical healthcare providers.
The implementation of the new core network is slated to commence in 2024, heralding a new era of resilient and efficient communication infrastructure for Sweden’s critical services.