One world-leading example comes from Finland. It has pioneered the first nationwide, multi-authority emergency response center. All public safety organisations use the same national radio communications network and mobile field command solutions to provide real-time situational awareness, simultaneously process data and alert all required units in real-time.

Following the announcement that Critical Communications World 2023 will take place in Helsinki, Kirsi Kokko, Head of Digital Trust Finland, Business Finland, outlines seven lessons from the pioneering Finnish ecosystem that global policymakers can adopt to implement a critical communications center of excellence in their region.

1. Build a partner ecosystem

Finland's partnership ecosystem is the superpower behind the success of its critical communications. It has built a network where public services, private companies, researchers and end-users collaborate in fluent communication thanks to lightning-fast data sharing exchanges.  

Delivering a fully operational system with different stakeholders communicating at various points of the journey doesn’t happen overnight. But the preparation and systematic work involved in ensuring key elements of the value chain - from networks to applications to devices and services - are essential foundations that have allowed the rest of the Finnish system to thrive. 

2. Share your data

In many countries, critical communications is still not interoperable between different authorities, resulting in inefficiency, high costs and lost lives. 

Set up with a collaborative approach from day one, all user data in the Finland strategy is shared by the collective and processed at multiple stages of the journey. At the start, this approach was developed to ensure optimal resource efficiency, but shared data has paid huge benefits, lifting the whole process in the long run.

One example of this in action is BroadWay, a pan-European public protection and disaster relief project between 11 countries, including Finland, France, Ireland among others. Currently, most countries operate their own individual communication systems for first responders and public safety services. Yet disasters, crime and terrorism are not confined to geopolitical borders.

The BroadWay project aims to achieve operational mobility for public safety responders across Europe. With shared data, mobile broadband networks and a roadmap for operations, it allows national communication networks to act as one. So that in the event of a national disaster or major emergency, communications between public safety responders are no longer restricted by international boundaries.

3. Generate trust

The future of public safety requires working together and building trust. If the public understands and trusts the data processes, they will be more confident in the whole system, enriching its potential.

Trust and collaboration built the shared Finnish TETRA public safety network, Virve. When it became clear that TEDS wideband data service would not address growing data needs, the network operator commissioned a strategy for mission-critical broadband services providing a world-first transition roadmap and best practices. The network is used by every partner in the ecosystem – emergency response, fire and rescue, police, social services, border guards, transport, and even utilities.

Another Finnish innovation, Insta Blue Aware, provides a rich and visual situation picture from operations, mobile units and control rooms, by combining encrypted data sources. Users can share, prioritize and utilize critical information in secure and reliable real-time.

4. Plan and prepare

The past few years have shown the world how important it is to prepare for the unexpected. The pandemic, the war in Ukraine and recent natural disasters underline the crucial need to communicate fast when the worst happens. To do that, agree on a strategy and do your due diligence, including regulation, legal and financing. Develop a proof of concept and plan your approach. 

Ultimately, patience and diligence are crucial when building a mission-critical ecosystem, but that hard work will pay dividends by saving lives and costs. Finland is keen to share expertise in this area, including guidance on legislation and regulation that sets the framework for using technologies.

5. Upgrade your infrastructure

Once you have a plan in place, it’s time to develop a roadmap for execution. Start with priorities, such as laying out a roadmap for transitioning to 5G networks. Something which will become ever more essential as public emergency services turn to digital operations, such as sensors on first responders and drones for search and rescue.

Here, partners can help by delivering solutions that can help transform infrastructure and processes. One such Finnish company, Secapp, combines all the elements of the developed ecosystem, to draw in all commercial communications channels (apps, SMS, automated calls, email) and authority communication (TETRA) channels into one solution. It enables the broadcast of mass notifications, alerts and sharing of critical data to ultimately improve safety, manage infrastructure and provide updates in an emergency.

6. Engage in continuous observation

Finally, keep it under constant supervision. A communications network needs continuous verification, upgrades and analysis to ensure all systems are working as they should and are ready to embrace new tech as it emerges.

Technologies are constantly changing the critical communications landscape, so it’s important to keep on top of the latest releases, such as 6G and quantum-proof cybersecurity. In Finland, the ecosystem is doing just this, with a rollout of Virve 2.0, an upgrade to the nationwide public safety network, based on faster 4G/5G services.

7. Deliver critical communications in harmony

Fundamentally, for mission-critical communications, if technology freezes or a partner network drops messages, that isn't just a bad investment; it can endanger lives or whole societies. Finland has many lessons to share across the value chain to ensure your system can meet the end users’ needs.

Now more than ever is the time to rise to the moment, embrace expert knowledge and join forces to create a critical communication center of excellence that supports a safe and stable society to keep citizens safe.