Next generation of Blue Light Mobile
Priority communication for emergency response coordinators
ASTRID launched the next generation of its Blue Light Mobile service. The launch was attended by the Federal Crisis Centre and 150 staff from across the emergency and security services. The new high-speed offering combines voice and data services and is now available to emergency response coordinators such as municipalities and contingency planning officials. Jan Jambon, Minister for Security and the Interior, handed out the first SIM cards today to the various public safety agencies.
Three networks in one
ASTRID first launched Blue Light Mobile as a high-speed data communication service in 2014. One SIM card now provides secure, priority access to three commercial mobile phone networks in Belgium and eleven networks in four neighbouring countries. Police departments and emergency services now enjoy the best coverage in Belgium, including border areas. In locations where there is no coverage for a given network, the user's tablet or mobile will switch automatically to the network providing coverage in that area. Data communication is fast, secure and high-priority.
New: priority voice communications
In addition to data, the second generation of Blue Light Mobile now offers voice communications. This means that users can now make priority phone calls quickly with their normal mobile or smartphone. Blue Light Mobile now boasts a unique feature - network priority over all other users.
Service offerings
There are two service levels: FIRST and PRIOR, with both offering priority communications. PRIOR card users have the added guarantee that their voice and data communications have absolute priority over all other mobile users. The number of PRIOR SIM cards is capped at 6,000 customers at present, to ensure that priority access operates effectively. However, there is still no limit on the number of FIRST SIM cards for all emergency and security services.
Blue Light Mobile SIM cards can also be personalised and individual users can activate different communication methods and options. Security departments and agencies can begin the phase-in of Blue Light Mobile SIM cards.
Contact: T 02 500 67 89 or info@astrid.be.
