Digital radio BOS Austria

The radio system presently in use within the Ministry of Interior (MOI) is still based in major parts on analog technology. Only for special users a digital radio system (APCO standard) was already introduced. In the same way other public safety authorities and organizations - BOS (as fire-brigade, rescue organizations) have similar radio networks in use for their communication.

A further development of the present analog radio system is not meaningful any more. In particular no suitable frequencies are availiable. Besides, it would be extremely uneconomic to set substantial investments into an outdated technology, which does not permit any future-oriented planning.

Within the context of the project "digital radio BOS Austria" and together with the austrian provincial authorities the MOI intends to change the entire radio communication for public safety in Austria in the coming years to a digital trunked radio system with country wide coverage. In further consequence this new system shall be availiable to all public safety organisations such as f.i. Federal army (border safety at Schengen external border), justice and customs police, the public sectors of the provincial governments, ambulance services, fire-brigades, a.s.o.
An agreement for a trans-organizational use of the new system within the area of the Tyrol was already signed with the government of this province. Talks that shall form the basis for decisions on the their side were initialized with the other Federal provinces. And with some provinces the contract ist allready signed.

The digital radio service will be operated on the BOS frequency band (380 MHz to 400 MHz).

This radio service is operated around the clock by a network provider according to the tactical, operational and safety-relevant requirements of the different user organizations.
The network provider was already determined as a result of a selection in an european-wide invitation for tender procedure.