Bittium Wireless and Finnish army prepare Framework Agreement on Bittium Tough Comnode terminals.

The Finnish Minister of Defence Jussi Niinistö has authorized the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command to enter into a Framework Agreement with Bittium Wireless Ltd on the purchase of Bittium Tough Comnode terminals and related accessories. The Framework Agreement would cover the years 2018-2020. The maximum value of the purchase authorization for the Framework Agreement would be EUR 8.3 million (excl. VAT).

Bittium Tough Comnode terminal (Picture source: Bittium)

Based on the Framework Agreement, the Finnish Defence Forces would issue separate purchase orders in several batches during the validity of the Framework Agreement. The Framework Agreement will not change Bittium's financial outlook for the year 2018, published on August 8, 2018 in Bittium's Half Year Financial Report January-June 2018.

Bittium Tough Comnode will fulfil the data transfer needs of the Finnish Defence Forces’ mobile troops by functioning for example as a VoIP phone (Voice over IP), an IP router (Internet Protocol), and an SHDSL repeater (Symmetrical High-speed Digital Subscriber Line). The terminals will be used by all three military branches.

Bittium Tough Comnode is rugged, easy to install in different environments and is also portable by soldiers on the battlefield. The terminal is compatible with the software defined radio based Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network (TAC WIN) system, which is meant for broadband tactical communications and is used by the Finnish Defence Forces. The terminal offers diverse connectivity options also to third-party equipment and systems. Bittium Tough Comnode also enables using legacy Combat Net Radios (CNR) as part of the IP-based tactical communication system (Radio over IP, RoIP).