In an emergency, first responders must be able to critically analyze a situation and evaluate risks and their options fast. With often little time for decision-making, to protect lives and the environment, they must be equipped with the greatest knowledge. Today’s first responder teams and authorities are already aware of the role that mobile broadband communications networks play in enhancing situational awareness. 

The evolution from legacy, voice-centric land mobile radio (LMR) and private mobile radio (PMR) to a mix of voice/video and other data has just given them a taste of how digital technologies can help them, but there’s more to come. Over the next decade, the transformation of mission-critical communications will continue, enabling new capabilities for sharing information in the field and with control centers and providing teams with greater situational awareness to reduce risks and help them make more informed and better decisions.

As threats increase globally, technology reduces the impact on human life

The number of natural disasters has increased by a factor of five in the 50 years between 1970 and 2019, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).  Climate change is the major cause and it’s bringing new threat levels through increased flooding, more intense tropical storms and more extreme temperatures. WMO predicts we’ll see more of the heatwaves, droughts and forest fires that have been reported recently in Europe and North America.

There is some good news, however. While the frequency of disasters has increased, innovations in technology have driven improvements in early warning systems and disaster management. That’s meant, between 1970 and 2019, the number of lives lost during a disaster has decreased three-fold. Leveraging digital communications technologies today, organizations can access environmental data in real time and quickly alert national and local authorities to prepare the public to aid disaster prevention using methods such as early evacuation. 

But, even with early warnings in place, disasters will still occur, and teams must prepare for every eventuality.

Connecting teams in challenging environments

As an emergency unfolds, connectivity between teams is vital for their own safety and to protect the public. The ability to quickly share push-to-talk voice and large data and video files over 4G/LTE and 5G networks offers significant advantages when managing search and rescue and recovery operations. But a greater reliance on digital technologies means that if the telecommunications network infrastructure is damaged or destroyed completely, communication becomes very challenging. 
With no way to share voice, videos or location-based data for tracking, how can teams make the best decisions fast to save the most amount of lives? It’s for this reason, Nokia has delivered Nokia Perimeter Network.

Delivering mission-critical voice, video and data where needed

Nokia Perimeter Network is a portable, deployable solution that provides secure mission-critical 4G/LTE or 5G network connectivity where needed. Operating in a range of up to 35 kilometers, and connecting as much as 25,000 users, first response teams can reliably and securely share voice, video and data in areas where there is no existing coverage. Weighing approximately 35kg and requiring a 1200 watts power supply, it can be up and running within 60 minutes of a team arriving at a site, armed with a portable generator. And, because of the embedded 4G/LTE or 5G core network with Nokia Radio Access Network components, teams benefit from the performance and latency enabled by an evolved packet core in a closed mobile broadband network. 

The solution can be used to bridge coverage gaps to aid disaster recovery efforts and search and rescue missions, or to augment coverage and capacity for security teams at high-traffic events such as outdoor music or sports festivals. Nokia Perimeter Network operates in the most remote and underserved locations, using cable, satellite or microwave technologies for the backhaul to an operator’s macro network.  Where road access isn’t possible, it can be transported by air, to provide the vital connectivity required for search and rescue missions or to control disasters such as forest fires or floods.

Leveraging Nokia Perimeter Network, teams can share videos and data e.g. by using Nokia Group Communications, and when connected to Nokia Drone Networks, benefit from beyond line-of-sight vision, gaining more insight to hazardous areas, or accessing new agility when scanning a large area to locate people or items. 

The Nokia Perimeter Network solution will be featured at Nokia’s booth #J60 during Critical Communications World in Helsinki, from 23 to 25 May 2023.

The solution is sold only via selected partners.

Get in touch to understand how Nokia Perimeter Network can aid your public safety operations.