Sweden: SkiStar Åre installs TETRA network from SRS and Sepura

SkiStar Åre has installed a new TETRA solution from Swedish Radio Supply (SRS) and Sepura in time for the Audi FIS Ski World Cup 2019.

Åre will host the Alpine World Cup in February 2019 with preparations receiving their final tweaks this week. To guarantee safety during the event, Åre will rent an additional 550 TETRA hand-portable radios. The new TETRA system will also be used for upcoming events, like the Orientation Competition O-Ring in 2021.

During the winter season, SkiStar staff will have access to 170 Sepura SC20 hand-portable radios, with built-in Bluetooth and 3 watts power output, to ensure improved public safety within the ski resort. These radios will enable the 500 seasonal workers to maintain safety across the resort, especially during the winter season when 89 ski slopes are open (these are connected by 42 lifts).

SkiStar is looking forward to expanding its TETRA system and including other facilities in the region such as Sälen, Vemdalen, Hammarbybacken, Trysil (Norway) and Hemsedal (Norway). Other ski resorts in the Nordic region such as Idre Fjäll are also users of a Sepura TETRA system.

SkiStar Åre’s main office is where it handles weather forecasts, avalanche warnings, requests for lost items and emergency calls. To help manage the allocation of responsibilities and quick response times SRS has implemented a new dispatcher system enabling operator staff to easily communicate to and monitor the location and status of users.

Angelica, a member of the control room team, is very pleased with the new TETRA system along with its benefits and features. She highlighted the great sound quality of the radio system, the individual calls that can be made and the ease of using the system which brings a huge improvement for the rescue team.

The winter sports operator is very pleased with the responsiveness of SRS and how well it met its requirements “We have received suggestions on what we need based on the knowledge and experience SRS has as a radio provider. SRS have also been present on site and followed us in our everyday lives, enabling them to suggest a solution which considers our needs and saves both time and energy. We have also changed our requirements specification a bit along the way” said Anders Jonasson, technical supervisor at SkiStar Åre.

“The basic education for the users has been largely managed by Anders, which has been positive and unusual in such a project,” said Mattias Hellström, key account manager at SRS. “In most cases, SRS manage the training and run information groups depending on the user area. But Anders took care of large parts of the education, which has been greatly appreciated by the users.”