Th state-run body is responsible for national communications networks for public authorities, emergency services and other critical services in Finland.
Planned to be operational by mid-2021, Ericsson will provide its 3GPP Core IT systems, products and solutions in Erillisverkot’s public safety network as it migrates to a next-generation Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) network initiative, Virve 2.0, by the end of 2025.
The migration project has been described by the body as “one of the most significant Finnish government ICT projects of the next few years”.
Ericsson NFVI, Dynamic Orchestration and VoLTE solutions are also included in the contract, alongside related deployment, learning and support services.
Arun Bansal, president Europe and Latin America at Ericsson said: “Critical networks demand the very best standards of reliability, security and performance in the core. We are working closely with Erillisverkot to ensure that is exactly what they will get from Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G core products and solutions to benefit critical services in Finland. It's fantastic to see Finland take such bold steps to ensure the safety and support of the nation in such a forward-thinking way and I look forward to other countries following suit.”
Timo Lehtimäki, CEO, Erillisverkot, said: “The next generation of Virve will be one of the most important governmental ICT project in the coming years, and naturally, a high priority for us at Erillisverkot. Virve will facilitate seamless cooperation between the authorities and other public safety operators, crucial in daily life but also in crisis situations, such as the current coronavirus pandemic.”
The contract is the latest in a series of wins for Ericsson. On 15 April it was announced Ericsson would provide 5G core technology to BT, while on 3 April it was one of three companies appointed to provide tech for China Mobile’s US$5.2 billion 5G investment.
