Dutch Emergency Services Begin Live Trials of Next-Generation Mission-Critical Platform

Netherlands moves its next-generation mission-critical communications programme from planning into execution, with up to 2,000 users set to work with the new platform alongside the C2000 TETREA network.

The Bestuurlijk Meldkamer Beraad (BMB), the Dutch administrative consultative body for emergency control rooms, has decided to launch the first phase of VMX (Vernieuwing Missiekritische Communicatie, or Renewal of Mission-Critical Communications), the new communications facility for the country’s emergency services. The decision marks the programme’s transition from the planning phase to the implementation phase.

This first phase is regarded as a scalable starting point: rather than continuing solely with research and design, the programme will now gain practical experience with the new capabilities that VMX offers.

A key development is that, during this first phase, a maximum of 2,000 users drawn from the current C2000 user community will begin working operationally with VMX in one or more control room regions. Participants will come from the existing principal user organisations of C2000: the police, the safety regions and fire services, ambulance care and the Ministry of Defence.

These users will be able to make use of voice, data and video applications through dedicated devices, apps and subscriptions. In parallel, work is under way on the technical foundation of the future, fully fledged VMX, enabling initial experiences to feed directly into further development.

Gaining Experience

The first phase is explicitly intended as a trial in operational practice. C2000 will remain in service, with VMX running alongside it. Not all mission-critical functions are yet available, including extensive network prioritisation and additional emergency provisions.

The principal outcomes of this phase will be that users gain hands-on experience, that insight is developed into management, costs and security, and that the results provide direction for the further build-out of a fully fledged VMX.

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