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Cassidian and Astrium Services provide French fire and rescue services with access to satellite communications
March 2013 by Emmanuelle Lamandé
Cassidian and Astrium Services have successfully completed the final validation tests for their remote solution for linking Tetrapol tactical cells using Astrium Services’ satellite communication services. The aim is to provide operations centres and the departmental fire and rescue services in France with access to dedicated satellite communications that are available 24/7, in particular for crisis situations. At any time and anywhere, it will provide them with reliable means of communication irrespective of the condition of terrestrial networks.
The tactical cell of Cassidian, 3G IDR (Independent Digital Repeater), is a autonomous radio communications solution that can be linked with Tetrapol networks. It allows task forces to communicate in extreme situations and in areas where there is no radio coverage. Up to now, the 3G IDR has allowed autonomous Tetrapol tactical coverage to be created to meet the need for temporarily extending or backing up the Tetrapol network.
The test results have demonstrated that several tactical cells can be remotely linked to extend the tactical radio coverage via the satellite communications service provided by Astrium Services on behalf of the French General Directorate of Civil Security and Crisis Management (Direction générale de la sécurité civile et de la gestion des crises – DGSCGC). This satellite link can also be used to transmit voice communication and data (terminal geo-location and SMS) from the tactical cell to the control room thanks to an IP interface module Radio Access Gate (AGR-IP). The major advantage brought by this new solution is that, for the first time, it is possible to remotely manage the AGR-IP Tetrapol terminal on the field from the control room via satellite link, to change the communication channel, the type of communication or to select the radio coverage if several are available.
The first operational use of this brand new solution will take place in the spring of 2013, with the installation of the tactical cell (3G IDR and 2G Radio Access Gate) in command post, light radio assistance and communications vehicles and satellite trailers belonging to Civil Security, which will also be equipped with self-deploying satellite equipment supplied by Astrium Services. Other applications using various solutions and types of satellite link from Astrium Services are already scheduled.
