Federal Council wants to create its own network for crisis communication
In Switzerland, emergency and rescue organizations such as the police, fire department, and ambulance services are to be provided with their own secure communication network for use during crises. The Federal Council has instructed the Department of Defense to draft a consultation document.
The Federal Council announced on Friday that emergency organizations must be able to communicate on the move in everyday life and in crises and exchange large amounts of data such as images and videos. The network should also work when the normal mobile networks are overloaded or broken, for example after disasters, a cyberattack or a terrorist attack. A standardized system that guarantees mobile broadband security communication for the Confederation, cantons and third parties in all situations is currently lacking in Switzerland.
The new mobile security communication system (MSK) will use the infrastructure of commercial telecommunications providers and supplement it with elements such as emergency power. This will ensure mobile data communication for the Confederation, cantons and third parties in all situations. With an MSK, emergency organizations could not only perform their tasks better in the event of disasters or terrorist attacks, but could also rely on secure broadband communication in everyday life.
The new network is to be implemented in stages. According to the federal government, this will allow new technological developments to be taken into account.
Replacement of Polycom
The planned MSK is to use the national secure data network (SDVN+) adopted by Parliament in 2019 and gradually replace the Polycom security radio system from 2030.
It is still unclear whether the Federal Office for Civil Protection (Babs) or the cantons should be in charge of the project. For the Federal Council, both are apparently conceivable. It wants to submit both options for consultation. The consultation draft should be available by mid-2024.
There have been several problems in Swiss security communications in recent years. The renewal of the Polycom blue light radio network initiated in 2016 made only slow progress. For example, the high security requirements for the communication system used by authorities and emergency services were underestimated. Polycom was set up by the federal government and cantons between 2001 and 2015. Its operation should be guaranteed until at least 2035. (SDA)
