Sütterlin-Waack sees digital radio at risk
Schleswig-Holstein's Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack has called on the federal government to provide the necessary funding for digital radio for authorities and organizations with security tasks. The CDU politician said on Thursday that the communication capabilities of 1.2 million emergency and rescue services nationwide would otherwise come to an end. "That would be a disaster, because the existing digital radio network cannot be maintained with the 284 million euros."
Sütterlin-Waack believes that the federal government is obliged to finance a share of 415 million euros from the federal and state funding for digital radio for 2024. However, only 284 million euros have been budgeted. "Fire brigades, rescue services, civil protection and the police need the necessary financial resources to ensure mission-critical communication in the future."
The CDU politician also accused the traffic light coalition of failing to meet its financial obligations when expanding digital radio into broadband voice and data radio. "This should make large amounts of data, photos, videos and map material available quickly and securely to support the professional work of the emergency and rescue services who are deployed day and night to protect the population." In view of the current security situation, it is incomprehensible that Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) is not setting the right priorities.
The federal government needs to provide the necessary funding for digital radio, considering the critical communication needs of organizations with security tasks, such as the police. Without adequate funding, the digital radio network for 1.2 million emergency services across Germany could cease to exist, which Sütterlin-Waack describes as a disaster.
Source: www.dpa.com
