Värmland, sweden - september, 2025
The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has awarded a €140 million contract to Airbus Defence and Space Oy for the migration of Sweden’s national secure communication system, Rakel, to a modern 4G/5G-based mission-critical platform. The award was officially published in the Official Gazette S 183/2025 on 24 September 2025.
The contract, titled “Migration Solution”, aims to ensure the continuity, security, and technological modernization of Sweden’s critical communications infrastructure, which supports emergency services, defence operations, and public safety networks.
From TETRA to Next-Generation 3GPP Technology
MSB operates the Rakel system, Sweden’s nationwide encrypted communication platform used by first responders and government authorities. With the current TETRA-based system nearing the end of its technical lifespan, MSB must either make significant upgrades to outdated technology or transition to a 3GPP-compliant 4G/5G communication system - the foundation for the upcoming Rakel Generation 2.
Under this agreement, Airbus Defence and Space Oy, headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, will deliver a migration solution that ensures backward compatibility with existing Rakel infrastructure while introducing modern features such as secure file transfer, image, and video communication capabilities.
The contract was negotiated without prior competition, as allowed under Sweden’s Public Procurement Act (2016:1145), Chapter 6, Section 14, citing technical exclusivity. MSB justified the direct award on the grounds that only the current system supplier could provide the required upgrade without disrupting ongoing critical services.
Scope and Strategic Importance
The €140 million agreement (excluding VAT) will be implemented in Värmland County, where MSB’s central operations are based. While not financed through EU funds or covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), the project represents one of Sweden’s largest recent technology investments in secure command, control, and communication systems.
This modernization effort is expected to strengthen Sweden’s national resilience, public safety coordination, and cybersecurity preparedness. The migration to a next-generation 4G/5G platform will also enable interoperability with other European mission-critical communication networks, aligning Sweden with emerging EU security and digital standards.
Airbus’ Role and Broader Context
Airbus Defence and Space Oy is a leading provider of secure communication systems across Europe, supporting mission-critical networks in Finland, Germany, and other EU countries. Its selection for this Swedish project reinforces Airbus’s position as a trusted partner in public safety communications modernization.
According to MSB’s Program G2, which reviewed the contract’s cost and technical feasibility, the migration will “ensure a smooth transition to Rakel Generation 2 while maintaining service integrity and security for all connected agencies.”
Conclusion
The MSB–Airbus partnership marks a crucial step in Sweden’s digital transformation of national emergency communication systems, paving the way for enhanced operational efficiency and future-proof public safety infrastructure. With this €140 million investment, Sweden joins a growing list of European nations transitioning from legacy radio networks to next-generation, broadband-enabled, mission-critical communication systems.
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#Sweden #PublicProcurement #ContractAward #AirbusDefence #tenders #MSB #RakelSystem #SecureCommunications #4G5G #MissionCriticalCommunications #ProcurementNews #GovernmentContracts #DefenceTechnology #CommandControlCommunication #SwedishCivilContingenciesAgency
