Nokia, Telenor and T-Connect make joint pre-qualification to supply TETRA network in Norway

The Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) decided on December 2nd 2004 to procure a new digital radio communication system for the Public Safety Agencies and other organisations with civil preparedness responsibilities. The project includes the delivery of a nationwide digital Public Safety Radio Network, a Control Room Delivery for utilizing the new communication system and Radio terminals for use in the Safety Radio Network. Nokia, the world leader in mobile communications, Telenor, the largest provider of telecommunications services in Norway, and T Connect, a leading provider of control room equipment, have formed a consortium and jointly submitted a pre-qualification application for the supply of the nationwide digital Public Safety Radio Network, including network roll-out and operation. The pre-qualification application also applies to supply Control Room Delivery, including maintenance and service. The three partners have wide experience and are industry leaders in their respective fields. Combined, they are able to deliver a complete solution for development, implementation and operation of both network and control room. In addition, the consortium will bring in sub-contractors that offer specialized products and expertise where needed. “This is a very strong consortium, with a proven track record in developing and implementing TETRA-solutions. The three partners have co-operated in Norway for five years, including being main suppliers to the TETRA pilot project in Trondheim from 2000 to 2003. Our activities have one common goal – to provide the public safety agencies with solutions that fulfill their needs, says Knut Erik Aas, Project Director in Telenor. Implementations of Public Safety networks are well underway in several European countries and many other countries have started the planning projects. TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) is the technology of choice in most of these countries. One of the reasons for this is that it allows for improved cross-border communications, for instance in the case of large disasters or criminal chases. Nordic commitment for the Nokia TETRA technology is confirmed in the neighboring countries Sweden and Finland, which makes it a natural choice also for Norway. The Minister of Justice and the Police is responsible for realisation of the project. Network roll out is set to start in 2006 and be completed nationwide by 2009. Following the ongoing pre-qualification process, selected applicants will be invited to submit tenders. Final selection of preferred tender is scheduled for December 1st 2005. Nokia is the leading vendor in country wide large scale TETRA projects and offers a full range of TETRA products, including base stations, digital exchanges and terminals. Nokia has supplied TETRA equipment to more than 60 customers in over 30 different countries, including Belgium, Finland, France and China. Nokia recently won the contract to supply the nationwide TETRA network in Sweden. Telenor has unparalleled experience in developing, maintaining and operating communication networks in Norway. At their headquarters in Fornebu, outside Oslo, Telenor has one of Europe’s most advanced centre for operating and monitoring telecommunication networks. From this centre, Telenor monitors fixed and wireless networks in Norway and across the Nordics 24 hours a day. T Connect has for the last 25 years supplied radio networks, terminals and control room solutions to public safety agencies and other organizations in Norway. As a result, T Connect has in-depth knowledge about national standards and the routines and needs of these safety agencies. About TETRA TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) is the world's first open digital professional mobile radio (PMR) standard, developed primarily to satisfy the needs of safety agencies. TETRA provides the functionality these user groups need by offering fast connection, advanced group communications, high degree of security and encryption, superior voice quality and customized radio equipment.