MSB Completes Procurement of Critical Communications Core Network with Associated Services

Contract with the supplier can be signed on 3 January 2024 at the earliest

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agenc (MSB) is commissioned by the Swedish government to offer services for mobile data communication in a state-controlled core network. Last week, MSB announced the allocation decision to the core network supplier Ericsson AB. Now a contract block of 10 days comes into effect. The contract with the supplier can be signed on 3 January 2024 at the earliest.

Through this allocation, the development continues to meet the user organizations' needs for socially important communication services that strengthen Sweden's ability for collaboration and management within total defense.

"With a state-controlled core network, we are taking another step forward in rebuilding Sweden's total defense capability,

...says Ronny Harpe, operations manager at Rakel and management systems.

A state-controlled core network opens up opportunities to develop cross-border communication solutions with other countries."

In 2020, the government commissioned MSB to provide mobile data communication (broadband services) as a complement to today's Rakel. The assignment also aimed to ensure that parts of the complementary solution could also be adapted for further development of Rakel generation 2.

The process behind the allocation decision

As the operator of the national criticsl communications network Rakel, MSB owns central parts of the system, including a dedicated core network.

Based on previous analyzes in government assignments on state ownership and control, the assessment is that a dedicated core network is of central importance to guarantee that information assets are handled correctly for actors in public safety, security, health and defence.

During the course of the mission, security protection analyzes were carried out with the associated consultation procedure with the supervisory authority, the Security Police.

MSB announced in July 2021 a procurement of core network with operation and customer support. In December 2021, MSB decided to suspend the procurement due to no complete tenders being received.

The market was judged to lack delivery capacity.

After the canceled procurement in 2021, MSB started a new one, with a new focus to procure only a core network in a first step.

MSB now supplements today's Rakel with mobile data communication. In a next step, MSB continues the work with Rakel generation 2 through the government assignment that was decided on December 14, 2023.

The assignment includes analyzing a proposal from Teracoms AB in relation to the final report that MSB and the Swedish Transport Administration submitted in February 2023.

Note: This article was translated by Google translate