The Republic of Kazakhstan has upgraded its public safety radio network from analogue to digital trunked TETRA technology, Matt Conder writes.

Built on existing elements of communications and radio systems in provincial towns and the main cities of Astana and Almaty, the network, deployed by infrastructure supplier Thales, will be supported by Sepura repeater and gateway technology to extend communications to areas beyond the reach of its base stations. Sepura radios will be used by police forces across the country to co-ordinate operations in a territory that rivals the whole of Western Europe for size.

Over 1000 desktop and vehicle SRG3900 radios, including gateways and repeaters, and more than 8300 robust STP8000 handportable TETRA radios have been supplied to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Interior (MoI) by Sepura’s local partner, Wellcomm. The radios’ numerous functions include GPS positioning, an emergency button, and motion-sensing technology for automatic man-down alerting. All terminals will incorporate bespoke online applications developed – using Sepura’s short data applications – by local systems integrator Agat.

The contract, the latest in a series of wins for Sepura in Central and Eastern Europe, represents the largest single order for public safety users in the region, and it was completed three months after being signed.

Sepura’s announcement follows a year of successful business in neighbouring Russia during 2011.

• Last year, Sepura collaborated with a Russian partner, RIC-Systems, to develop and launch the first TETRA radio compatible with Glonass (Global Navigation Satellite System), a system analogous to GPS, operated by the Russian Space Agency. Already it has received its first major order for Gamma-branded radios. RIC-Systems’ partner Radiotel will supply 1500 units to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.