The Nordic countries have a long tradition of cooperation in civil security and emergency preparedness.
Norwegian emergency response and public safety organizations work operationally with their counterparts in Sweden and Finland. Everything from natural disasters to crime presents regional challenges that may require resources and support from one or more neighboring countries. In such situations, it is essential that emergency response and preparedness organizations have access to robust, secure, and cross-border critical communications.
Previously, communication with other Nordic actors required switching to mobile phones. Today, Nødnett is connected to Finland’s Virve and Sweden’s Rakel through the TETRA standard ISI (Inter System Interface). ISI enables communication between different networks and allows radio terminals to migrate across networks, both at a strategic and operational level.
The ISI project has resulted in bilateral agreements between Norway and Sweden (NOSE), Finland and Norway (FINO), and Finland and Sweden (FISE). In September 2019, the three-way connection between Finland’s Virve, Norway’s Nødnett, and Sweden’s Rakel was launched (FINOSE).
In addition to shared voice groups, common guidelines, routines, exercises, and knowledge of each other's emergency management and methods make cross-border work easier, safer, and more efficient.
Cross-border communication is a collaboration between DSB and its counterparts in Finland and Sweden—Erillisverkot and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB).