The Swedish Ministry of Justice has proposed an LTE-based critical communications network, which will use 2 x 10 MHz FDD (703-713 & 758-768 MHz), with an additional 2 x 5 MHz in the 700 MHz-band (698-703 MHz and 753-758 MHz) to be used in the longer term once the current Rakel TETRA network is phased out and LTE’s voice functionality for public safety is mature.
The network will begin as an MVNO, with a state owned evolved packet core (EPC) and will eventually consist of a dedicated radio access network of 7,000 eNodeBs of which 800 will be on greenfield sites. The roll-out of these sites is assumed to occur in phases.
To improve the network’s economics, the report’s authors propose that unused spectrum resources will be available to commercial users, in a manner like that being pursued by FirstNet in the US.
The report notes that Sweden and the surrounding area is characterised by increasing threats and a deteriorating security situation. After the initial MVNO stage, the commission proposes transitioning to a dedicated radio access network (RAN) for public safety organisations with a colocation offer for commercial use.
The costs are estimated at nearly SEK1.5 billion (£140 million) for the first two years for the development of the core network and the rollout of LTE equipment across existing infrastructure and new sites in rural areas, followed by a further SEK 3 billion over the following three-year period.
Once these investments are made, the report estimates that around SEK300 million in annual investment will be required. Annual OPEX is estimated at SEK600-670 million, but this is expected to be partially offset by around SEK100 million a year in co-location revenue from commercial operators at green-field sites.
There will now be a two-month referral period, after which the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), the owner of the country’s Rakel TETRA network will begin the planning stage for the new LTE network. MSB already has a governmental directive to execute this work and present it to the Ministry of Defence in November 2017.
The report in Swedish can be read here
TETRA Today would like to thank Andreas Göthe at Combitech AB and Mats T Persson of the Swedish Police Authority for their assistance with this story
