How Norway’s new Emergency Communications Network is being developed: 

A resilient service based on modern technology

The new Emergency Communications Network will be based on commercial mobile networks and modern 5G technology.

All three mobile networks in Norway will be used to ensure resilience and diversity and maintain competition in the market. The use of multiple mobile operators provides multiple layers of resilience and several alternative communication paths if failures or crises occur.

Nkom is currently assessing how both radio access networks and core networks can be delivered by all three operators, and how users can be distributed across them.

Users may have subscriptions with multiple operators to ensure service availability in the event of outages in one network core. National roaming between mobile networks is also being considered to ensure high availability for users.

By utilising all three commercial mobile networks, emergency and preparedness users can benefit from ongoing technological developments, continuous investments and innovation in mobile infrastructure and services.

Coverage through multiple access technologies

Coverage in the new Emergency Communications Network will primarily be delivered by the mobile operators.

Mobile coverage in Norway is generally very strong, and all networks cover the areas where people live and normally travel. The mobile networks are continuously improved and often provide better indoor coverage than today’s Nødnett system. Air-to-ground coverage will also be included in the new solution.

Nkom recommends that the new Emergency Communications Network utilise multiple access technologies to strengthen resilience and availability. In addition to mobile networks, wireless technologies and satellite communications will be used to improve coverage and robustness.

In particular, low-earth orbit satellites and Wi-Fi offer significant advantages as backup solutions and for use in areas without mobile coverage.

Nkom is also assessing deployable solutions that can establish connectivity adapted to different operational needs, user groups and geographical areas. This is an area with significant innovation, ranging from small portable units that can be carried in a backpack to larger solutions designed for long-term deployment.

Mission-critical communication services

The new Emergency Communications Network will provide secure and efficient mission-critical communication services, including group-based voice, video and data services. By leveraging modern mobile technology and continuous developments in commercial mobile networks, the solution will enable faster situational awareness, more effective operational coordination and improved interoperability across emergency and preparedness organisations. Mission-critical services may be prioritised in the networks, ensuring high availability even during network congestion or major incidents.

Nkom is committed to ensuring that the new Emergency Communications Network utilises the most modern and widely available technologies. The selected concept creates strong opportunities for continuous development of future-oriented services in line with technological progress and the operational needs of emergency and preparedness users. The network will also support the use of technologies such as drone operations, sensors and IoT, and artificial intelligence (AI), enabling users to carry out missions more safely, efficiently and collaboratively.

Rugged handheld devices

The new Emergency Communications Network will provide users with secure mission-critical communication services, such as group voice communication, sharing of data and video, crew call-out and positioning services.

These services place requirements on mobile phones and other equipment used in operational environments.

Operators of critical communication services in the Nordic countries have jointly developed common requirements for rugged handheld devices and other terminals intended for use in next-generation communication systems.  PPDR Rugged Handheld Device for heavy use

The current requirements focus specifically on rugged handheld devices designed for use under demanding operational conditions. Similar requirements for other types of equipment may follow later.

Bring your own device (BYOD)

In many cases, emergency and preparedness users will require dedicated mobile devices subject to strict security requirements in order to gain full access to mission-critical services with priority access.

In other situations, it may be appropriate for users to access selected services through work phones or private devices - also referred to as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).

Nkom is currently assessing how non-dedicated devices can be used by users who do not require full mission-critical functionality but may still benefit from selected services.

This may also enable rapid scalability during crises.

Security requirements and operational needs will remain central considerations in these assessments.