Telia has unveiled a prototype command and control vehicle designed to keep connectivity up and running during crisis situations. Developed with support from the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), the Nordlänk RSQ can operate self-sufficiently anywhere in the country and is designed to boost Sweden’s resilience in the event of widespread network disruptions or power outages.
Built to a modular blueprint, the Nordlänk RSQ can be rapidly deployed for critical use-cases including repairing networks, establishing mobile command posts and supporting emergency operations. If required, it has the capability to reinforce or re-establish mobile coverage. The vehicle can accommodate five people and is equipped with its own power supply and drones.
Staffan Åkesson, Head of Infrastructure, Telia Sweden: “We’ve built this vehicle as a prototype, but it’s already fully operative and ready for use in increasing the resilience of Telia’s networks.
“National preparedness requires innovation and co-operation across the public and private sectors – and this collaboration shows what we can achieve together. We see it as the first step towards a standardized and scalable solution. Together with PTS, we’ll assess the possibility of increasing the number of vehicles, with the aim of strengthening the telecom sector’s ability to respond in a crisis.”
The Nordlänk RSQ project forms part of Telia’s broader activities to boost the security of Sweden’s infrastructure within Nationella telesamverksansgruppen, a public-private sector co-operation forum.
Telia and PTS’s ongoing work on network resilience has previously included trialing the use of hydrogen to extend the operating time of mobile base stations hit by a major power outage from four hours to a remarkable 110 days.
