Rijkswaterstaat Enters into Partnership with Airbus for New Communication Service

Rijkswaterstaat entered into a partnership with Airbus for the new ‘push-to-talk’ communication service for the Road Traffic Management Operation.

Rijkswaterstaat announced that earlier this year, Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Managment), awarded the contract for the new ‘push-to-talk’ communication service at Road Traffic Management to Airbus.

Rijkswaterstaat entered into a partnership with Airbus for the new ‘push-to-talk’ communication service for the Road Traffic Management operation. The new Airbus communication system replaces the current radio communications system.

Both the old and the new radios systems are used by road inspectors, operational advisory staff and road traffic controllers within Rijkswaterstaat.

Road inspectors can be found on the entire main road network, a number of provincial roads and in the border areas. The radios can therefore be used throughout the Netherlands (and just beyond). The Airbus system is used as a ‘back-up’ communication system to fall back on in the event of a telephone network failure. Furthermore, the system offers an emergency button functionality for colleagues in need.

Smart Radio Communicatons via 4G/5G

With the arrival of the new smart radio, named Lifeline and devloped by Abiom,  Road Traffic Management is switching from communication via a Tetra network to push-to-talk communication via 4G/5G. The radio itself is being replaced by a robust smart radio that combines the functionalities of a walkie-talkie with those of a smartphone.

Future deployment

Rijkswaterstaat and Airbus are initially focusing on the 1-on-1 replacement of the current radio communications system by 1 January 2025. In 2025 and 2026, further opportunities offered by the new radio's will be explored and tested and a practical test will be carried out using the system as the primary means of communication.

Best price-quality ratio

In this tender, Rijkswaterstaat selected on the basis of the best price-quality ratio. Offerings of the tendering parties were assessed, among other things, on the coverage of the networks offered and on the possibilities for development. Of all the tenderers, the offer from Airbus had the best price-quality ratio.