Private conversations

Sectra’s Michael Bertilsson tells EU Infra about the importance of secure TETRA communication.

Security is a major issue for many TETRA users. What options are available for those seeking to encrypt and protect their critical communications?
Michael Bertilsson. Sectra has developed a crypto solution on a smart card that protects voice communications from eavesdropping between TETRA terminals from different vendors. This means that users can choose terminals based on their own preferences and maintain shared security. Our crypto solution was recently launched at the TETRA World Congress and is the first promoting safe and efficient cooperation among various public safety agencies.

Leading TETRA terminal vendors are also providing communications security but solely between their own terminals. Without our crypto solution, all TETRA users are limited to using one type of terminal to ensure secure communications.

What is Sectra’s background? Are you new in this line of business?
MB. Sectra is focusing 100 percent on security and our expertise is within encryption. We are new in the TETRA world but have been serving European government authorities and defense departments with voice encryption since the nineties.

Today, we have customers in more than half of all EU member states using our personal voice encryptor Tiger to protect their telephony from eavesdropping. We have established cooperation with leading national security bodies and have important security approvals from EU and NATO.

How important is it that TETRA networks balance security with flexibility?
MB. It is crucial to have secure communications among public safety agencies such as the police, customs and emergency services. These agencies need to protect vital information that is essential for society. Efficient cooperation requires a crypto solution that is flexible and supports the most commonly used TETRA terminals. In an emergency situation you cannot be dependent upon having the same type of equipment for secure communication. It is much smarter to have an independent crypto solution.

What is the secret of the flexibility provided by Sectra?
MB. Sectra’s crypto solution on smart card is designed to be used with any TETRA terminal supporting the standard recommendation 02 & 08 from the TETRA Association’s Security and Fraud Protection Group (SFPG). This means that our smart card crypto can be integrated in virtually any terminal on the market. All major terminal vendors either support or will be supporting this recommendation. Today, we cooperate with Motorola, EADS and Sepura and our crypto solution fully supports terminals from these leading vendors.

Are there any examples of where TETRA crypto solutions have been successfully deployed in real-world situations?
MB. We have developed this crypto for users in the Swedish public safety network in close cooperation with the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration. The Swedish public safety network, based on the international TETRA standard, is being built up in Sweden through 2010. This network is used by government authorities, county councils, municipalities and commercial parties involved in public safety, security and health as well as by Defence Forces.

From the 1 July 2009, the EU presidency is being undertaken by Sweden and Sectra’s crypto solution for TETRA will be used by public safety agencies, such as the police, to secure critical communications.

Michael Bertilsson is President of Sectra Communications. He holds an MSc in Computer Science from the Institute of Technology at Linköping University and PhD in Information Theory. His doctorial thesis dealt with cryptology and how to share secrets.