[Satellite TODAY 05-21-13] Astrium Services has won a contract to provide Belgium’s emergency and security services with Blue Light Mobile, their first secure mobile 3G network. The five-year contract has been signed with ASTRID, which is Belgium’s mobile telecommunications network operator for the nation’s local and federal police forces, its fire, civil defense, customs, state security, national defence and air and sea rescue services, and some of its hospitals and ambulance services.

 

    To be deployed from early 2014, Blue Light Mobile will allow the security forces to exchange vital information during missions on the ground: enriched mapping of selected areas; real time videos and pictures; and access to state security files and databases. 

 

    ASTRID, which currently operates the security forces’ TETRA-type radio networks, will therefore reinforce its commercial offer with a 3G solution. Astrium Services has drawn on Cisco’s equipment and solutions in making use of the latest IP broadband technologies offered by commercial networks in line with mobile 3G and 4G standards.