IDEMIA Secure Transactions selected to power France’s next-generation secure broadband network for emergency services

France is moving ahead with a major overhaul of its public safety communications infrastructure, with IDEMIA Secure Transactions selected to support the deployment of the Réseau Radio du Futur, a new nationwide secure broadband network for domestic security and emergency services.

Operated by ACMOSS, the Agence des Communications Mobiles Opérationnelles de Sécurité et de Secours, the Réseau Radio du Futur, or RRF, is designed to provide priority, resilient, and secure mobile connectivity for first responders across the country. The programme will ultimately equip more than 300,000 users, marking a significant step in modernising how France’s security and emergency services communicate and coordinate.

The RRF represents a generational shift in technology. It will progressively replace the existing Tetrapol network, which has underpinned critical communications for decades, with a high-speed 4G and 5G-based solution. This transition reflects the changing operational needs of public safety agencies, which increasingly rely on data, images, and video alongside traditional voice communications.

A unified network for critical communications

Once fully deployed, the RRF will enable real-time exchanges of voice, data, images, and video, even under demanding operational conditions. The network is designed to support mission-critical communications during emergencies, large-scale incidents, and periods of high network congestion, when commercial mobile services may be unreliable or unavailable.

By 2027, the RRF is expected to be used by police officers, gendarmes, firefighters, emergency medical services, customs officials, armed forces personnel, and justice staff. Bringing these groups onto a single, interoperable platform is intended to improve coordination and situational awareness, particularly during multi-agency operations.

Beyond replacing legacy infrastructure, the RRF is positioned as a foundation for future capabilities. Its nationwide coverage and very high-speed connectivity are designed to support new digital tools and services as they emerge, allowing public authorities to evolve their operational models over time. Priority access and built-in security are central to the network’s design, ensuring that authorised users can communicate reliably when it matters most.

IDEMIA Secure Transactions’ role in the project

As part of the programme, IDEMIA Secure Transactions is contributing its expertise in secure connectivity to support continuous and resilient communications for emergency responders. The company is providing a dedicated platform that combines advanced SIM technology, including eUICC, with over-the-air remote network management and subscription management services.

These technologies are intended to simplify deployment and operations while meeting the strict requirements of critical communications. Remote management capabilities allow network configurations and subscriptions to be updated without physical intervention, which is particularly important given the scale of the rollout and the diversity of organisations involved.

Data protection and resilience are also key considerations. The connectivity platform is designed to ensure secure exchanges across the network while maintaining flexibility and reliability at a national level. According to the programme’s objectives, this combination of security and operational efficiency is essential in environments where delays or failures can have serious consequences.

The decision to select IDEMIA Secure Transactions also reflects a focus on national technological sovereignty. Entrusting a project of this strategic importance to a French technology provider is intended to give authorities greater control over critical communications infrastructure and sensitive data, while reinforcing domestic expertise in secure connectivity.

Commenting on the announcement, Fabien Jautard, Executive Vice President of Connectivity Services at IDEMIA Secure Transactions, said, “We are proud to be a trusted partner on this strategic project. The RRF reflects France’s determination to strengthen its resilience and technological independence. It demonstrates the added value of our secure connectivity solutions and highlights IDEMIA Secure Transactions’ ability to support national authorities in building and operating mission-critical infrastructures.”

A European reference for public safety networks

With the deployment of the RRF, France joins a small group of countries that have committed to next-generation broadband networks specifically designed for security and emergency services. As other European states prepare to phase out narrowband systems, the RRF positions France as a reference point for modernising critical communications infrastructure.

The project also has broader implications for Europe’s public safety ecosystem. By demonstrating how 4G and 5G technologies can be adapted for secure, priority-driven use, the RRF may influence how similar networks are designed and deployed across the region in the coming years.

IDEMIA Secure Transactions operates as part of the IDEMIA Group, a global technology company with more than 12,500 employees worldwide. Within the group, IDEMIA Secure Transactions focuses on secure payments and connectivity, while IDEMIA Public Security delivers biometric solutions for government agencies. Together, these capabilities underscore the scale and ambition of France’s next-generation secure broadband network.