An important milestone in Finland's VIRVE public safety network was reached recently, when two high-security features, Authentication and Air Interface Encryption were brought into operational use, exactly on schedule.
"We are proud of the latest addition to the VIRVE's capabilities," says Janne Koivukoski, Director of VIRVE Unit, Ministry of the Interior, Finland. "We have been pioneers in TETRA - the first authentication test in VIRVE was held in April 2001 -- and now we are the first in the world to bring TETRA Authentication and Air Interface Encryption into nationwide operational use."
For today's public safety users, high security is essential. In the past, analogue mobile communications systems were notoriously vulnerable - for example, the communications were very easy to intercept. The Authentication and Air Interface Encryption features in Nokia's digital TETRA system use dynamic encryption keys, to protect the network from unauthorized radio users and make eavesdropping impossible.
"Security issues are close to our heart," says Matti Peltola, Nokia Networks. "With its TETRA Class 3 encryption interoperability certificate, the Nokia TETRA System fulfils the strictest requirements for communications security in mission-critical radio operations. TETRA Authentication and Air Interface Encryption are excellent examples of features that can bring operational benefits to public safety personnel in their demanding tasks."
In TETRA Authentication, the system checks that a radio terminal is authentic and not an illegal clone, thus preventing unauthorized radio users from accessing the system and its services.
TETRA Air Interface Encryption hides the contents of the calls and messages that are transmitted on the radio path. The signalling and coded speech sent on the radio path are ciphered using encryption keys and an encryption algorithm. Only authorized recipients have the cipher keys and only they can decode the encrypted speech and signalling. TETRA Air Interface Encryption protects the network against eavesdropping, analysis of traffic patterns, and unauthorized use.
About VIRVE
Today, the Finnish public safety network VIRVE is complete and operational and serves more than 35,000 users across Finland. The functions of this nationwide network are available uniformly and seamlessly within its coverage area. The major user groups are the emergency, fire and rescue services, the police, the Frontier Guard, the Social and Health Services, the Customs Authority and the Finnish Defence Forces.
About Nokia
Nokia is the world's leading supplier of TETRA networks and terminals and has demonstrated an unique capability to deliver multi-switch TETRA networks with the ability to provide all TETRA services uniformly countrywide. Special features include: top-class communication security, fast group calls, sophisticated emergency call functionality, prioritized calls, advanced messaging and data communication services, including packet data. The open interfaces of Nokia TETRA solutions enable seamless integration to command and control systems. Nokia continues investing in TETRA radio technology and systems for the benefit of present and future customers.
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on five major exchanges.
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Notes to the editors
TETRA technology is a world standard published by ETSI for digital mobile trunking networks. TETRA networks offer secure, digital mobile communication for professional organizations such as oil and gas companies, utilities, the transportation and public safety and security sector (police, emergency, civil defence, security services, etc.). Data communication improves field operations by allowing users to access databases via their radios.
Most European countries have already chosen the open TETRA standard as the basis for their public authority radio networks, as have a number of countries elsewhere in the world.
TETRA technology minimizes the capital investments and the operational expenses of organizations because it allows simultaneous and independent use of a single existing network by many services, administrations and ministries. TETRA enhances the safety of classified information by using encryption of the connection. It also increases the effectiveness and the coordination of different services and ministries in crises and natural disaster situations through connecting independent Virtual Private Networks into one communication environment.