Samsung Electronics announced Thursday that it will partner with IBM to provide a frontline emergency communications network in the UK.
Samsung said it will provide its mission-critical solutions to support the UK government's Emergency Services Network. The project, overseen by the UK Home Office, aims to modernize communications for more than 300,000 first responders across the country, including police, firefighters and paramedics. Samsung will deliver advanced communication systems to ensure fast, reliable and secure information sharing during emergencies, the company said.
This marks Samsung’s first major mission-critical deployment in Europe, signaling the company’s growing presence in the region. Building on its expertise in virtualized and Open Radio Access Networks, the company said the ESN will enable seamless connectivity and improve frontline operations with real-time communication.
As part of the initiative, Samsung will deploy its Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk solution, which supports real-time sharing of video, images and data, enabling first responders to make quicker, more informed decisions in critical situations.
“As mission-critical communications are of the utmost importance for the nation’s security and protection of its citizens, Samsung is proud to take part in this program to evolve public safety networks in the UK,” said Everth Flores, Vice President and Head of Samsung Networks Europe.
The company emphasized its strong track record in public safety networks, pointing to its deployment of the world’s first nationwide public safety system in South Korea and similar projects in the US and Canada. Its leadership in advanced 5G solutions, including virtualized and Open RAN technologies, has positioned Samsung as a global leader in mission-critical communications, it added.
IBM, a key partner in the project, also stressed the significance of the initiative. “We are proud to support the Emergency Services Network in delivering a secure and resilient communications platform to empower frontline emergency services,” Rahul Kalia, Managing Partner at IBM UK and Ireland, said.
By Park Li-na (linapark@heraldcorp.com)
