Broadband  |  2023-04-18

ASTRID Introduces 5G for Misson Critical & Public Safety End-Users in Belgium

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

As of today, all ASTRID Blue Light Mobile subscriptions have the option to use 5G for their mission critical communications operations.

Emergency services in Belgium are now able to enjoy the full benefits of 5G on the ASTRID Blue Light Mobile Network providing higher network capacity, shorter response times and higher speed.

ASTRID Blue Light Mobile is specially designed to respond to specific needs for the Belgian emergency or security services, for government agencies or for critis managers.

The 4G subscription offers the end-user a mobile voice and data communication service that is highly available thanks to:

  • Priority on the Proximus network - giving the user priority over private subscribers to use the Belgian networks. If the network should become overloaded, the Blue Light Mobile user will be served first and enjoy the highest speeds.
  • Acces to all Belgian communication on all Belgian commercial operators (Proximus, BASE and Orange). This means that if the Proximus network is unavailable, the SIM card will automatically switch to BASE or Orange

From today, access to 5G is automatically included in the Blue Light Mobile subscription and ASTRID doesn't charge any additional cost. In fact ASTRID already activated 5G for all of it's end-users. 

One of these end-users is ZNA (Hospital Network Antwerp). For ZNA, ASTRID Blue Light mobile guarantees emergency communication in 10 hospitals, it guarantees the secure accessibility of the electronic patient record via an external data centre and in the event of a complete blackout, communication remains possible with all care departments and critical services ZNA uses.

According to Bram Dispa - emergency coordinator at ZNA: “Robotization in surgery is on the rise. But to transmit 3D images, you need a lot of bandwidth. 5G is interesting in that area. There are also useful applications in MUGs and ambulances. you might want to think of teleconsultations, so that you can request assistance from a cardiologist, orthopedist or traumatologist on an emergency location. 

For the time being, 5G Blue Light Mobile is only offered via the Proximus network.