ASTRID invites critical comms community to celebrate “20 years of vital connections”

ASTRID, the telecommunications operator for Belgium's emergency and security services, will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special edition of the ASTRID User Days at a unique venue in the heart of Brussels on 3 and 4 October 2018. More than 2,000 attendees are expected.

Together with the Netherlands, Finland and the UK, Belgium was one of the four pioneering countries in the TETRA world. In the summer of 1998, ASTRID was established with the mission of developing a common communications network for all public emergency and security services. In the years that followed, ASTRID rolled out the TETRA radio network, a paging network and control rooms for handling emergency calls. Over the subsequent years, other services followed, such as a high speed data service (Blue Light Mobile) for data transmission. Currently, no less than 75,000 users from the Belgian public security and emergency services rely on ASTRID mobile communication resources.

The infrastructure that dates back to the early years of ASTRID is now the subject of a major renewal. All crucial components are being replaced and optimised, while the system architecture is being tailored to modern possibilities and safety requirements.

Fully booked exhibition hall
Since 2004, the ASTRID User Days have always been a successful event, establishing a “vital connection” between the operator, the end user and the international TETRA community.

20 years of ASTRID also represents a celebration of 20 years of co-operation between the various emergency and security services in Belgium and the 20 years of dedication of the ASTRID users. For this reason, ASTRID would like to celebrate this anniversary together with everyone concerned at the ASTRID User Days.

This two-yearly event gathers all public safety decision makers, telecommunication and IT experts and the industry in Belgium and abroad. For this special anniversary edition, ASTRID chose a unique central venue nearby the Brussels Central Station. The 3,500 m² exhibition hall will offer a broad overview of current and future applications in the fields of critical communications, localisation, paging, track and trace, alerting, dispatching, video, drones, etc. The fact that about 70 exhibitors have already registered is a very good thing for the attendees, as it enables them to establish personal contacts with specialised companies all at one place.

Innovation for end users and citizens
For the first time, the Belgian Ministry of the Interior and the Belgian police will present all their innovation projects such as the 112BE app, robots and drones, crisis management and e-learning platforms, citizens alerting, the connected police, etc.

The seminar programme offers a choice of more than 20 seminars on each of the two days. There will be a full two day continuous workshop stream in English aimed at the international attendees. The plenary session will be opened by the Minister of the Interior and will also be translated.

The seminars cover a wide range of topics such as the mid-life upgrade of the ASTRID networks and services, next generation Blue Light Mobile, the BroadWay project. Several innovation platforms such as EENA 112 and VIAS Institute will provide updates on advanced mobile location, drones and emergency response, cybersecurity in control rooms, virtual reality and eye tracking, artificial intelligence and crash investigation. The Circle of Police Leadership (CPL), the professional association for senior managers of the Belgian police, will organize a national conference.

Free registration for all public organisations:

  • Visitor from the public sector: free access to both days including exhibition, seminars and catering. For all public safety and emergency services, public authorities and institutions.
  • Visitor from the private sector: the all-inclusive entrance fee is €145.50 euros (VAT inclusive) per person for both days including exhibition, seminars and catering.

Wednesday 3 & Thursday 4 October 2018
Registration starts at 8.30 AM. Exhibition closes at 5 PM.
Official plenary session on Wednesday at 10 AM.

www.astriddays.be
#astriddays2018

Square Brussels Meeting Centre
Glass Entrance
Mont Des Arts
1000 Brussels
Belgium
www.square-brussels.com