TETRAPOL PEGAS Network in Czech Republic

Czech Ministry of the Interior boasts about PEGAS system

‘Compared to the analogue radiocommunications system which we were using in the past, this is a big step forward with the use of digital technology,’ said Czech Minister of the Interior Stanislav Gross last week at a press conference in Prague, which was dedicated to the assessment and practical use of the PEGAS radio communication network, based on the TETRAPOL technology, by the components of the Czech integrated rescue system.

President of the Police of the Czech Republic Jiĝí Koláĝ, deputy director of the Fire Brigade of the Czech Republic Lieutenant Colonel Václav Muchna, and foreign guests, representatives of the users of TETRAPOL technology – Colonel Dautois from the French Gendarmerie and President of the TETRAPOL Users’ Club Franz Niederer were also present at the press conference.

Minister Gross briefly summarized the history of the project, also reminding that a few years ago he proclaimed the construction of the PEGAS, finished according to a plan at the end of August 2003, system one of the key priorities of his Ministry. Although the decision on new radiocommunications system was taken by Czech authorities in 1993, the building of the national network started in 1999, mainly due to the lack of financing of the project.

In 1999 the system was subjected to expert analyses which ascertained that continuing in the construction of PEGAS radio communication network appears to be the best way of providing for communication needs of the components of the Czech integrated rescue system. First regional network of PEGAS system was built in Prague, where in autumn 2000 IMF and World Bank conference was held.

‘I don’t even want to imagine how our previous analogue system would stand the test in case of intentional interference,’ said Mr. Gross with reference to the fact that during the IMF/WB Prague conference the PEGAS system was subject to attacks in the form of intensive interference. ‘The PEGAS system passed this tough endurance test and the Government consequently decided on the configuration of a nation-wide coverage, on increasing the number of base stations, constructing 14 regional networks, on the total number of terminals, and on the date to which the construction of PEGAS system should be concluded,’ the Czech Minister of the Interior said.

Furthermore, Minister Gross mentioned that two years later the PEGAS system withstood another immense burden and successfully passed the tests in the form of intensive communication during the floods in Prague and later during the NATO summit in Prague. ‘Since the end of last August, which was the deadline for the completion of construction, we have had at our disposal the complete infrastructure, and terminals are being distributed to the users in regions,’ Minister Gross said.

President of the Czech Police, Mr. Koláĝ, opened his address saying that he was going to speak as one of the users of the new communication system. He stated that for 30 years the Czech Police had been using analogue system TESLA which was already out of date ten years ago. ‘That system did not have the same characteristics as we have now. It did not enable safe operation, it was not protected against random or intentional tapping, it did not enable communication in code nor sending messages in code, and it did not have nonverbal communication,’ said President of the Police Koláĝ literally. ‘Today we have at our disposition a totally different system with infinitely better utility qualities, which in the hands of the Police becomes a modern communication device,’ he said.

Mr. Koláĝ said that the PEGAS system has made police work more effective. He admitted that the coverage with the signal of the Czech territory is not one hundred per cent and that in difficult terrains such as in the mountains, there are deficiencies to the signal. At the same time, however, he stated that the coverage of the CR is 95 per cent. In conclusion, the Police President mentioned again that compared to the analogue systems, the PEGAS system has completely different utility qualities. As an example he said that through data transmission the police will be able to enter central databases, which will make police work in the field more effective.

Colonel Muchna, representative of the Czech Fire Brigade, informed that fire-fighters units are currently being issued with radios and that by the end of 2006, all regions in the Czech Republic will be provided with PEGAS system radios. Colonel Muchna said that ‘the integrated rescue system is basically about cooperation and communication among the individual intervening components,’ and he reminded that ‘where there’s no connection, there’s no command.¤ He called a big advantage the fact that the PEGAS system now enables communication among the individual components of the integrated rescue system.

Franz Niederer, President of the TETRAPOL Users’ Club, congratulated the Czech Republic on building up the system which is used by several components, and he said that in Switzerland the network is used similarly, i.e. various components share the same infrastructure. In the context of the current threat of terrorist attacks he said that when fighting against these threats the police need to use such advanced technological solutions as the TETRAPOL technology.

Colonel Dautois who represented another user of TETRAPOL technology – the French Gendarmerie, remarked that France was actually the first user of this technology. He went on to mention some basic facts about the French Gendarmeries network RUBIS: It was finished in October 2000; it consists of 470 base stations, 45,000 radio terminals, and 13,000 data terminals. RUBIS provides 80 per cent coverage to vehicle terminals and enables the connection with airborne and marine units of the Gendarmerie.

Minister Gross said at the end of the press conference that ‘PEGAS network is now available also for other subjects’, not only for police, fire brigades or medical rescue services. Minister stated, adding that among those interested in using PEGAS are municipal police, Prison Service, and also other entities such as security agencies. ‘We have built up the motorway and now it is up to the potential users to get themselves the cars,’ he thus metaphorically described the use of PEGAS network. Mr. Gross said that Czech MOI will enable access to the system for those components and units that will be interested in doing so and for those who have something to do with security issues. ‘It is a useful solution. The spectrum of users is growing and that is just good,’ he said.

For any further information, please contact:
TETRAPOL Users Club
Dr. F. R. Niederer
President TETRAPOL Users’ Club
Email: frn@tetrapol.com

TETRAPOL Forum
Emmanuelle Costenoble
Email : emmanuelle.costenoble@tetrapol.com

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