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Country wide communication system Royal Dutch Army
The real “Big Brother” is in EdeBosch

"The central incident room at the Simon Stevin barracks in Ede is the new ultra-modern surveillance centre for all Dutch military property. Even the specialists at the Pentagon are impressed."

That’s how an article in De Gelderlander newspaper of 10 January 2000 summarised the Royal Dutch Army’s new surveillance system. This advanced integrated system enables the army to protect its property using a team of just 700 people, whereas previously the same job would have required 3,000 soldiers on patrol.

The main contractor, Robert Bosch BV, is leading a group of highly respected companies in the installation of the system in some 200 army properties throughout the Netherlands.

Hessing Telecommunication BV is responsible for the communication aspects of the system. This will include a national intercom system which links the various properties via ISDN lines. The system is based on the advanced digital Hescal III intercom system. This COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) system has been adapted for the project in line with the Army’s specifications, viz.:

- 34 control rooms linked to a national communications system via ISDN lines
- Integrated recording facilities using digital recorder systems which can be controlled both locally and from the central incident room
- Integrated telephone function
- Intercoms which can be operated both locally and remotely. A day/night switch is used to connect all the intercom substations to the central incident room
- Microphones with 7 kHz bandwidth for monitoring highly secure areas