Le Future Radio Network (RRF) is a new mission critical communication system designed for public safety and emergency services.
The RRF was created to replace the current low-speed radio networks, which are aging and no longer meet the needs of security and emergency forces. Indeed, relying on a pre-GSM technology (TETRAPOL), these networks are no longer in phase with the uses of its current users such as the police, the gendarmes, the rescuers or the firefighters. Only voice communications and text messages can pass through these networks and as the fleet gets older, upkeep and maintenance costs increase year after year.
Thus the objective of the RRF is to provide, by 2024, a fast, secure, resilient and fully interoperable communication system for security and emergency forces based on the MCPTT communication standard dedicated to critical missions standardized by the 3GPP.
The RRF will allow:
- Push-To-Talk voice radio communications,
- data exchange,
- video communications,
- to use business applications,
- priority of communications by RRF subscribers in relation to general public users (priority access and guaranteed speed for exchanges),
- the geolocation of its users,
- interoperability between different trades/communities,
- the addition of additional network coverage in the event of a crisis or disaster.
The RRF will operate through the infrastructures of mobile network operators and will integrate 4G and 5G technologies. The RRF will select two operators and its users will benefit from priority use over the general public. This priority device will prevent them from saturating their communications in the event of traffic congestion.
Unlike current low-speed critical networks that limit communications to a defined geographical area, thanks to the roaming offered by telephone operators, communications transiting via the RRF will no longer have a border. Users located in separate areas far apart from each other will be able to communicate without any problem.
Thanks to the RRF, group and individual video communications and the geolocation of users will become possible, unlike the current private network.
Today, professionals use at least one of the following communication solutions:
- a radio for their operational communications operating over a limited area,
- a smartphone for their calls and data exchanges (emails, SMS, MMS, etc.) that can be used throughout the national and international territory.
The RRF will offer an all-in-one solution with a single piece of equipment.
Finally, the RRF enables a major innovation: interoperability between different trades.
The RRF will allow emergency and security services to communicate more with each other, especially in the context of large-scale operations where their coordination at all levels is necessary.
Thus, equipped with a terminal suitable for field use and operating on a secure and more efficient next-generation network, security and emergency actors will be better equipped to ensure the continuity of communications and carry out their critical missions.
The results of the award of the various lots of the RRF contract initiated by the Ministry of the Interior are expected in the next few days.
