Swedish Sea Rescue Society

The Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS) is a volunteer-based organisation that plays a vital role in safeguarding individuals at sea. Supported by 2,300 volunteer lifeguards working across 74 sea rescue stations, SSRS provides rapid emergency response services to those in distress. Their fleet of rescue boats and radio-equipped teams are often dispatched within 15 minutes of receiving an emergency call, making efficient communication critical to their success.

As a mission-critical organisation, SSRS relies on its communication infrastructure to ensure the safety of individuals at sea. Effective communication during rescue operations is essential, and having reliable, up-to-date radios is a key factor in maintaining operational efficiency. SSRS faced challenges in managing and programming their fleet of Sepura radios, which were essential for coordinating rescue missions. With radios stationed in multiple locations and the need for continuous updates to their configurations, the process of keeping radios up to date was a time-consuming and complex challenge.

To improve its radio programming and operational efficiency, SSRS chose to upgrade its existing Sepura critical communications solution to include Over-the-Air (OTA) Programming. OTA Programming allows for radios to be remotely programmed or updated whenever they are connected to a secure Wi-Fi network, eliminating the need to physically connect each radio to a programming device.

 The upgrade significantly simplified and streamlined SSRS’s programming process. With this solution, administrators can now remotely update all radios in the fleet, including handheld and mobile models, using Sepura Radio Manager. Radios can be quickly programmed for specific rescue missions, enhancing communication capabilities just before boat launches and providing several key advantages:

• No need for administrators to handle radios: With OTA Programming, administrators no longer need to physically handle radios to perform updates, which saves time and reduces the risk of error.
• Reduced downtime: Radios can be updated without interrupting the user’s communication. Downloads occur in the background, ensuring that users can continue their tasks while the radios are being re-programmed.
• Fewer interruptions to operations: The process of updating radios is more efficient, minimising disruptions to SSRS’s critical operations.
• Improved asset management: The ability to wirelessly update radios fleet-wide without needing them to be physically brought to a programming station enhances overall asset management.

Supported by Sepura’s Swedish partner Northcom, SSRS implemented OTA Programming to upgrade its fleet of Sepura SC Series radios. The upgrade allowed the organisation’s radios to be re-programmed or updated whenever connected to a secure Wi-Fi connection. This was a game-changer, particularly for a geographically dispersed fleet operating across different shifts, as it simplified the process of performing fleet-wide updates without requiring radios to be physically gathered at one location.

Using OTA updates, SSRS can change many aspects of a radio’s setup, including updates to the radio’s configuration, phonebook, talk groups, feature licenses, AppSPACE applications, and the upload of critical data. OTA Programming ensures that programming is carried out quickly and efficiently, and users are still able to control their radios once the updates are downloaded.

The ability to update and re-programme radios wirelessly, without requiring every radio to be in one central location, has greatly improved operational efficiency. Radios can be programmed at the same time across different locations, reducing delays and ensuring that communication remains consistent during high-pressure rescue operations.

• Fleet-wide updates are now quicker and more efficient, with fewer interruptions to daily operations.
• Radios can be remotely programmed, allowing SSRS to respond to emergencies faster without the burden of manual updates.
• OTA updates ensure that all radios are equipped with the latest configurations and features without requiring downtime for users.

The Swedish Sea Rescue Society’s adoption of Over-the-Air (OTA) Programming has enhanced the organisation’s critical communications capabilities, enabling them to respond more efficiently to emergencies at sea. By reducing manual programming tasks and eliminating the need for physical connection to a programming device, OTA Programming has saved time, reduced costs, and improved operational communications, ultimately helping SSRS continue its vital mission of saving lives at sea.