TETRA  |  2020-11-10

DSB Alows Skagerak Nett to Use Nødnett TETRA Network in Creative Way

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

Skagerak Nett, the company that generates, transmits, and distributes electric energy in Southern Norway, recently used Nødnett, the Norwegian critical communications TETRA network , to connect their field workers for a joint talk group drive-in meeting.

Skagerak Nett has not practiced physical attendance since the beginning of the corona pandemic, nor have they held a joint meeting for their fitters during this period - until now.

For contingency reasons, grid companies in Norway are required to use radio communicatons.  That is why Skagerak Energi chose Nødnett after an assessment of HSE, coverage, emergency power capacity and costs. Since 2019, the assembly/field workers are equipped with about 180 handheld radio terminals. The Nødnett TETRA network is mainly used as an emergency connection, for daily communications - and now also for meetings.

Last week, Norwegian news agency NRK reported that Skagerak Nett has held a drive-in meeting for its fitters. The fitters were connected through a joint talkgroup and were thus able to attend a joint meeting without leaving their own car. 

According to the participants the drive-in meeting is a creative solution, a fun initiative and a very nice way to hold a joint meeting.

DSB's customer manager, Volker Kluge, agrees: "This is a very pleasant story about the creative use of Nødnett. Skagerak Nett focuses on group communication and the acquisition of additional equipment makes it easy for the fitters to easily use Nødnett in their daily work. Using Nødnett actively supports effective communication and interaction within the company, both on a daily basis and in the event of undesirable events."