Still a long way to go for full implementation of the German TETRA network for police, fire and emergency services

This Monday the Düsseldorf and the lower Rhine area the police have been testing digital wireless radio devices for their daily use. In 2014 the North Rhine-Westphalia region will use the digital communication system region wide. The launch was delayed repeatedly.

Actually, police officers should be using digital radios during the World Cup Football 2006. "Sometimes it is just different as expected," said Ralf Jäger (SPD) on Monday (09/01/2012) at the Police headquarters in Dusseldorf. Seven years later than planned the interior minister, celebrates "another important step towards the widespread introduction of digital radio in NRW".

In Düsseldorf, Mönchengladbach, Mettmann, Viersen and the Rhein-Kreis Neuss "the extended trial run" starts first. The digital radio network has to prove its functionality for 6 months - the analogue radio system however remains the main  and solid operational service.

For the construction of the digital radio network, the country has invested some 513 million euros - 40,000 NRW police officers and more than 120,000 employees of fire departments, emergency services and aid agencies are now equipped with digital radios. The metropolitan area of Cologne will be next - go into the test phase - expected in March. Aachen has made the jump into the digital modern age with a pilot project back in 2001. Since 2011, the Aachen police is using digital radio communication.

Alignment between the provinces, high costs, not a mature technology, lengthy bidding and selection process - the transition from analog to digital runs rough. Actually planned for 2006, 2014 is now the date where the digital radios will be used by police, firefighters, customs and rescue services in Germany.

The BDBOS governs the uniformity of the network in Germany. The small city-states are naturally good in the time and the expansion in populous, large countries of North Rhine-Westphalia and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern lies ahead.

The new technology looks at the first sight old - Small screen, big antenna, a bit like a 90's mobile phone. A higher quality of voice and radio functionality, is one of the benefits of the digital radio, according to NRW Interior Minister Jager. In addition, the new radio equipment is smaller, lighter, and would offer additional functions in addition to the group communication as an individual call, and the ability to make calls and send short text messages.

Sending mugshots or transfer large files works, however, not with the new technology. More information that fits into simple SMS, can not be transmitted through the network. This is criticised by the police union (GdP): "When we are sent out for a mission, the local colleagues should be able to take advantage of the digital data.  For example, we need mug shots in real time, however this feature is still far away, "said CEO Frank Richter GdP Chef.

Source: www.wdr.de