BDBOS Highlights Civil-Military Communications Role of Digital Radio BOS at GPEC 2026
BDBOS Vice President Frank Buddrus delivered a keynote address at GPEC outlining the critical role of the German digital radio network BOS in supporting civil-military cooperation as the country's strategic responsibilities within NATO continue to grow.
BDBOS Vice President Frank Buddrus delivered a keynote address at the General Police Equipment Exhibition and Conference (GPEC) on 20 May, outlining the critical role of the German digital radio network BOS in supporting civil-military cooperation as the country's strategic responsibilities within NATO continue to grow.
Speaking at the Civil-Military Cooperation Conference held as part of GPEC, Buddrus emphasised that reliable, cross-organisational communications infrastructure remains a decisive factor in the success or failure of emergency operations. He underscored the growing importance of interoperability between Germany's civilian emergency services — collectively known as the BOS — and the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, in light of the country's evolving geostrategic position within the alliance.
Buddrus confirmed that BDBOS, the Federal Agency for Public Safety Digital Radio, will continue to fulfil its mandate of ensuring communications continuity between military and civilian actors through the established Digitalfunk BOS network. The agency operates Germany's nationwide TETRA-based digital radio infrastructure, which serves police, fire, rescue services and other public safety organisations across all sixteen federal states.
To translate this commitment into operational practice, BDBOS is currently organising a large-scale communications exercise in coordination with the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Ministry of Defence. Scheduled for October 2026, the exercise is expected to involve more than 600 civilian and military personnel and is designed to test and strengthen cross-organisational communications procedures under realistic conditions.
GPEC, which brings together national and international security agencies on topics spanning homeland security and law enforcement, served as the backdrop for several related events this week. These included the 4th Forum Broadband on 21 May, also organised by BDBOS, which focused on broadband communications developments for public safety. Alongside Buddrus, the civil-military conference drew speakers from the Bundeswehr, industry, academia, politics and civil protection organisations.
The exercise planned for October 2026 signals a broader shift in German public safety communications policy, reflecting increased awareness of the need for seamless interoperability between civilian and military forces in crisis scenarios — a priority that is becoming firmly embedded in national resilience planning across NATO member states.
Image: Courtesy of BDBOS
