Motorola launches security measures to protect emergency services radio communications
Basingstoke, UK, July 28 -- - Police service of Northern Ireland first to benefit from trial of high-level TETRA Encryption
Motorola, Inc. Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS) today announced the introduction of a new range of security products for TETRA (TErrestrial Trunked RAdio) digital radio systems that will further protect emergency services' communications. The new suite of software products, named Dimetra SecureNet(tm), provides an important new level of protection against criminal eavesdropping on communications, impersonating officers on the air and deliberate clogging of radio systems at crucial times.
Motorola, which was the first company to deploy TETRA encryption three years ago, have achieved another milestone by being the first to have Class 3 encryption on trial with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland, who already have highly secure digital radio communications systems, have upgraded the protection of their new TETRA communications to Class 3 encryption. A spokesperson at the Police Service of Northern Ireland explains: "Security of communications is essential to our operations and this upgrade to our system which is currently undergoing installation is part of a programme to give us the most secure wide area police communications system in the British Isles."
In mainland Britain, 11 police forces using Motorola-supplied TETRA digital radio communications systems operated by mmO2 Airwave are protected against eavesdropping by encryption. Analogue systems used by the remainder of the emergency services in the UK, consisting of 40 police forces as well as all ambulance and fire services, do not have the added protection of digital and encrypted communication and remain vulnerable to eavesdropping via scanning devices.
Increasingly, criminals are eavesdropping on emergency services to gain advance warning of action against them, and it is difficult to keep major operations secret if any of the forces involved are not using encrypted digital radio. This can have a major impact on police operations efficiency, as a UK police force recently discovered when they changed to their new Airwave system and achieved an immediate positive impact on their success in fighting drug-related crime.
Although ETSI Class 3 encryption has been available for test and demonstration purposes for some time, Motorola is the first company to roll out ETSI Class 3 encryption in its Dimetra SecureNet system. The Dimetra SecureNet system uses embedded encryption measures to protect not just the transmission content, but also user identities and signalling data. This means that people using scanners cannot eavesdrop or track users and cloned radios cannot be used for misinformation.
Motorola CGISS is recognized as a market leader in digital private mobile radio technology development and has been awarded more than 600 digital radio contracts worldwide including more than 60 TETRA contracts in more than 30 countries. Motorola also is recognized as a the worldwide leader in the supply and implementation of secure radio systems for police communications with an installed base in excess of 100,000 encrypted radios. Today's announcement marks an important advancement in Motorola's ongoing commitment to TETRA and, in particular, to providing comprehensive secure solutions to the public safety market.
- About Motorola's Dimetra SecureNet Solution
Motorola offers several levels of security in its Dimetra SecureNet package:
- Authentication
Motorola's Dimetra software uses Authentication Keys that perform a "handshake" between infrastructure and terminals before any user is allowed on the system. Anyone trying to use unauthenticated radio terminals or infrastructure will be denied access, preventing imposters using cloned radios from creating misinformation.
Motorola provides Over the Air Re-keying (OTAR) secure delivery of keys automatically over the network from its Authentication Centre. This means that terminals do not need to be returned to the provider for key change, significantly reducing management costs.
- Encryption
Based on the ETSI Air Interface Encryption standard Class 3, individual, group and direct TETRA transmissions are protected against eavesdropping. Control channel signalling is protected, which prevents Denial of Service attacks and traffic analysis.
- About Motorola Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector
Motorola's Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS) is a leading provider of integrated radio communications and information solutions, with more than 65 years of experience in meeting the mission-critical requirements of public safety, government and enterprise customers worldwide. The sector offers an extensive portfolio of solutions to meet growing public safety and security needs, including: interoperable two-way radio communications solutions; command and control solutions; identification and tracking solutions; information management for criminal justice and civil needs; and physical security and monitoring solutions. For more information about Motorola CGISS, please visit: http://www.motorola.com/cgiss
<