Advanced First Responders’ Services by Using FASTER Project Architectural Solution

As the 5G technologies start to become a reality in telecommunication networks, more services and applications are designed to take advantage of the new features that 5G technology is offering. Additionally, several vertical sectors are using advanced applications in order to improve their performances. One important vertical is the Mission Critical Services (MCS) sector, which could significantly exploit 5G networks. When an emergency event occurs, such as a strong earthquake or a flood, the network traffic is proved to be rapidly increased. At the same time, the first responders need all the available resources in order to offer their services efficiently. In a situation like the one described which is extremely demanding and the available resources should be used as a priority by the first responders, the existing 4G network does not seem to be sufficient. It must be ensured that the first responders could be interconnected in a reliable network, which will provide a low latency and ultra-high throughput transmission being able to support all the advanced equipment and devices (UAVs, robots, AMRs, augmented reality and virtual reality glasses, etc.) that the first responders need. These requirements are satisfied by 5G networks. The 5G network architecture has been designed and implemented based on a new approach. The 5G network architecture that was designed and implemented for the needs of FASTER project and the advantages that this architecture offers to the first responders is presented in this paper.