WIDEN narrows the gap

An EU-funded project has led to the development of a prototype network,

, that could be quickly deployed in areas where there is no available communication infrastructure to support emergency or peacekeeping operations.

Emergency responders currently use cellular-based digital communications that require a backbone network and provide limited throughput over long distances. By contrast, WIDENS is composed of 'terminodes', which are software-defined radio communication nodes with mixed enhanced handset terminal and IP Router features for greater throughput.

The network enhances existing systems with high bandwidth (2Mb/s) over a dedicated emergency area of a few square kilometres. Higher throughput means large amounts of sensor data, such as images for telemedicine applications, or video-surveillance, can be exchanged. WIDENS is also straightforward to deploy in the field as there is no need for any specific equipment such as aerials.

It can be used as a standalone system for communications in remote regions while being connected to backbone network and/or command and control centres via satellite or airborne platforms. The system is also designed as a 'healing overlay network' for areas where there is a lack of capacity to support emergency-related traffic, or where communication infrastructure has been destroyed.