Narrowband  |  2026-04-13

R&S Communications Delivers Network Radio and GPS-Enabled Communications for the 2025 Rotterdam Marathon

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

Critical communications infrastructure supports safety operations across 42-kilometre route for nearly one million spectators.

R&S Communications, a provider of professional radio communications solutions in The Netherlands, has successfully delivered an end-to-end communications deployment for the 2025 Rotterdam Marathon, commissioned by event organiser Golazo Group.

Working in partnership with TETRA network provider Entropia, R&S Communications supplied network-based portable radios with integrated GPS functionality to support the full scope of safety and operational management across one of the Netherlands' largest mass participation events.
The deployment covered multiple operational stakeholders, including the event organisation, route security teams, the Red Cross South Holland Delta region, all first-aid personnel on the course, and Crowd Care — the dedicated team responsible for managing crowd flow at metro stations across the Rotterdam city centre.

With approximately one million spectators lining the route and thousands of runners competing across 42 kilometres, the operational communications challenge required a scalable, real-time solution capable of coordinating dispersed teams rapidly and accurately.

GPS-Enabled Command and Control

Central to the deployment was the integration of GPS tracking within the network radio platform, delivering three core operational benefits:


  • Real-time situational awareness: GPS positioning enabled command teams to monitor the locations of the lead and final runners, traffic marshals, and security personnel continuously throughout the event, supporting faster and more informed decision-making across all phases of the race.
  • Intelligent traffic management: GPS data allowed traffic marshals to manage road closures dynamically. Intersections could be reopened to regular traffic the moment the final runner had passed, minimising disruption to the surrounding city while maintaining route integrity for participants.
  • Rapid incident response: In the event of an emergency, the GPS-enabled platform allowed command centres to immediately identify and dispatch the nearest available security officer or first-aid responder rather than relying on a general team call — a capability that significantly reduces response times and improves outcomes for both runners and spectators.

A Proven Model for Major Events

The Rotterdam Marathon deployment underscores the growing role of GPS-integrated network radio platforms in large-scale event safety management, where real-time location data has become a critical complement to voice communications.

R&S Communications' assignment by Golazo Group reflects the increasing demand from major event organisers for professional-grade communications partners capable of coordinating complex, multi-agency operational environments.