broadband


members to ensure that future mission-critical communications technologies are appropriate to their particular needs by developing an intelligent and practical migration strategy from narrowband and wideband data services to broadband data.


Better data capabilities Initially, to fulfil the requirements for greater data capacity, the Multi Slot Packet Data service (MSPD) was developed to enhance the first release of TETRA. It was, however, recognized that TETRA’s data capabilities were insufficient. As a result, ETSI created a wideband data standard which is known as TETRA Enhanced Data Services (TEDS). TEDS is a TETRA High Speed Data (HSD)


service using different RF channel bandwidths and data rates for flexible use of PMR frequency bands. TEDS is fully integrated with the original TETRA Release 1, thus allowing for ease of migration. It has been optimized for efficient use of PMR frequency bands and designed for all TETRA market segment applications. TEDS was standardized to provide much


greater flexibility in data provision, and much higher data rates with a choice of channel widths. TEDS is a truly wideband data service, allowing channels up to 150kHz wide to be utilized, and data rates in excess of 500kbit/s. Tis standard increases data throughput tenfold, and its ability to serve mission-critical users is unlikely to be rivalled during this decade.


Wideband enhancements Evolutions to the current TETRA and TEDS solutions are ongoing. Tese include enhancements to improve throughput and reliability of data to enable coverage and capacity improvements. Another potential development is the merging of voice and data services together on the TEDS wideband data channels. Tis would allow greater flexibility in planning TETRA systems, because voice channels could then be adaptive in the same way that data channels can be, to allow coverage and capacity to be tailored in each area according to requirements. Mixing voice and data together on the same carrier is also more efficient, as the voice and data capacity can be traded from one instant to the next according to demand.


A hunger for data However, the speed of technology evolution means its development requires constant attention, and on behalf of our members the TA is already working on how to deliver greater data capability for mission-critical services. With the importance placed on mobile


data communications by domestic users, it is surely logical that professional users will need similar access to data-hungry applications.


Issue 3 May 2011 TE TRA TODAY


Streaming video of major incidents to a central control room, restoring electricity supply following storm damage and maintaining safety on rail networks that are handling increased levels of traffic are all examples of the need for high throughput, high availability data communications by mission-critical user organizations. In particular, there is an identified need


from the TETRA customer base – from those involved in public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) activities – for higher data bandwidths up to broadband data speeds. Users need to share more multimedia content including video for situational awareness of operational incidents. Accordingly, Working Group 4 of ETSI’s TC TETRA has been tasked with developing a broadband data standard to provide a high-speed variant of TETRA.


Tailored for TETRA Although there are other broadband data technologies already in the marketplace that can provide part of a solution, it is important that the solution that we produce for the mission- critical communications market offers the same unique attributes as TETRA itself. Tese include high levels of security and availability, sharing information between many users simultaneously using group calls and the ability to provide coverage over large geographical areas without excessive numbers of base station sites. Tese requirements are somewhat different from those driving consumer technologies, which is why we will develop a solution that is tailored to the needs of the TETRA community. Whilst public safety is a primary user


of mission-critical communications, the TA believes that other user groups should be included in the development of user requirements for future mobile solutions. In particular the utilities (gas, electricity and water), transport (rail, road, ports and airports) and the petrochemical industries provide services that are vital to the health and safety of the citizens of this world.


Opportunities in 4G Tere is much excitement about the potential of 4G technologies such as WiMAX and LTE in both domestic and professional situations. It is possible that either of these technologies could be utilized by mission-critical users. LTE is expected to be the standard of choice


in the future for the public operators, and is already the standard chosen in North America for broadband data services for the public safety services. However, there are some significant differences between the needs of the domestic user and of those who are responsible for the welfare of the citizen. Commercial operators provide coverage only where there is sufficient revenue to justify


the investment, whereas mission-critical users typically require coverage in rural and urban areas as well as metropolitan areas. Investment in system resilience is also


limited for commercial networks but is vital for mission-critical users. Such users typically work in groups and therefore need to communicate in groups and they may not always be in the coverage area of a base station. Tis means that direct mode (handset to handset) operation is an important requirement too. If mission- critical users are to take advantage of the coming 4G technologies, then these issues need to be addressed before developments can be planned.


Collaborating Te TA is working closely with a number of public safety network operators and is keen to collaborate with those organizations that are responsible for critical national infrastructure to develop common solutions across a range of industries. At this time there is no indication of any technology that can provide the rich set of features and functionality that TETRA offers for voice communications, and we believe that TETRA will remain at the heart of mission- critical networks for many years to come. Tere is no doubt that some, non-critical,


data communications can be carried by commercial network operators and LTE seems likely to be the solution favoured by most operators. However, critical data must get through regardless of the nature of any incident – and experience shows that at times of major incidents, commercial networks either become overloaded or occasionally are switched off altogether. Streaming video to a command centre from a terrorist incident, controlling trains carrying hundreds of passengers or getting telemetry from a turbine pumping highly flammable gas are just a few examples of genuinely critical data.


Identifying spectrum Spectrum is a key component of any dedicated broadband solution and we have been lobbying the European Commission and national regulators to find spectrum to enable the adoption of mobile broadband services. Despite this effort, harmonized spectrum for broadband for public safety and security organizations’ use is several years away. Tat means TEDS will remain the only technology available for wide- area, mission-critical data service for the next few years. Te TA believes it is essential that standards


be maintained and enhanced to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of users, especially in an environment where technology is in a state of constant development. We are working to ensure that future broadband technologies will meet the demanding requirements of those for whom mobile communications are truly critical.


11


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44