15 European countries are committed to work together to establish a common roadmap for future evolution of EU PPDR radio communications via BROADMAP partnership
- The BROADMAP partnership created a proposal to answer to Horizon 2020 DRS-18 call for proposals
- Specifications and transition road mapping of future broadband PPDR radio communication in EU will be available in 2017, if the proposal is agreed by the Horizon 2020 evaluation process
On 26th August, PSCE completed the co-ordination, and submission, of a landmark proposal to Horizon 2020 - BROADMAP.
The proposed BROADMAP project intends to take the first steps towards future co-funded procurement necessary to enable ‘interoperable next generation of broadband radio communication systems for public safety and security’ to enhance interoperability across borders and improve PPDR service to European citizens.
BROADMAP proposes to collect and validate the PPDR (Public Protection and Disaster Relief) organisations’ existing requirements with the aim to establish a core set of specifications and roadmap for procurement to achieve future evolution of EU broadband applications and interoperable radio communication solutions for PPDR.
The BROADMAP partnership comprises 15 potential buyers/end users representing EU Member States and associated countries; 8 of which represent the Ministry within the country responsible for public safety and 7 representing end users and network operators. 48 additional PPDR organisations have signed letters of support for the BROADMAP project, expanding geo-political coverage within 7 additional EU and associated countries and support from stakeholders in the US.
The BROADMAP proposal formation was initiated in 2014 on the request of PSCE’s User Committee members. It took the entire eight months to gather together the strongest team of end users and a delicately balanced strategy to support the future procurement of necessary R&D and innovative products needed to fulfil the validated requirements for broadband interoperable networks for PPDR and critical communications.
The proposal is now in the hands of the Horizon 2020 evaluation process and we expect to hear the results early in 2016. Should we be successful we will be engaging with the broadest team of EU public safety end users ever to formalise requirements, specifications, solutions and roadmaps which will lead towards new interoperable broadband capabilities deployed with an operational expectation within 8-10 years.
PSCE’s next conference will be held in Oxford (UK) on 9th and 10th December 2015, where we will discuss the outcomes of spectrum decisions made at WRC’15, the steps to take to achieve broadband capabilities for PPDR, security and resilience of next generation networks, the potential for 5G, and data protection and privacy issues surround the deluge of information enabled by broadband, as overseen by the pending EU data protection regulation.
David Lund, President of PSCE and coordinator of BROADMAP says: “It’s been a lengthy process but the collective enthusiasm of the partnership is unprecedented. We have a truly motivated and influential team”
Manfred Blaha, Chair of PSCE User Committee says: “BROADMAP is a milestone on the broad way for PPDR organisations to get a broadband network. It is not only to follow technological trends for a new gadget. It is about giving First Responders some data-rich communications tool for their live-saving duty. It is about serving our citizens best possible.”
Heikki Riippa, The Police Board, Finland says: “PPDR operational way of working is in transition throughout Europe – high speed wireless connectivity is mandatory to address the pressure from the changing society towards – BROADMAP partnership is key to address this evolution”