Freesic

Objectives

In recent years, the First Response organizations across Europe have considerably improved their communications with the deployment of new technologies including dedicated TETRA and TETRAPOL networks. Nevertheless, a number of recent major incidents have highlighted challenges the first responders face, most notably the interoperability barriers. ("Interoperable communications for Safety and Security", 2010) There are significant budgetary pressures for emergency responder agencies as well and they cannot invest significant part of their budget to interoperability which is needed only from time to time - the solution must be cost effective.

During our work on the FP7- Security project SECRICOM much has been learned about the actual state of the interoperability and the real-life limitations that inhibit this fine goal. These obstacles are more related to business and culture or end-user organisations than technical matters:

         Differing doctrines between agencies and countries

         Significant budgetary pressures for emergency responder agencies

          Optimisation of existing investments

          Multiple systems deployed EU wide

          Trust and security concerns

          Classified information

          International agreements and legal limitations

          Business – long term contracts

It is a FREESIC objective to deal with these issues and offer a way to overcome barriers of true interoperability: