Digital
New year, new identities T
wo industry groups in the digital radio fi eld have
announced changes of name: the dPMR MoU has become the dPMR Association and the Tetra Association is now the Tetra + Critical Communications Association (TCCA). T e dPMR Association, whose
activities focus on the ETSI dPMR standard for business radio, explains that the change of name refl ects the growth of its membership over the years. Established in 2007 as a forum for parties wishing to support very narrow band (6·25 kHz) and digital FDMA-based radio technologies, the group currently includes 14 members. T ey range from radio manufacturers, chip manufacturers, protocol and software developers to systems developers. For the Tetra + Critical
Communications Association, its new identity signals wider aims as
Tetra system users begin to show interest in adding broadband wireless capability to their communications resources. T e association’s chairman, Phil
Godfrey, said: “T e board of the Tetra Association has decided that it is appropriate for us to broaden the scope of the association so that it is not just looking at Tetra voice and Tetra data services but is able to look forward to other, emerging technologies. Mobile broadband is probably the most important one of those in the short term.” But he added: “We don’t see
anything on the horizon that is likely to replace Tetra, or indeed TEDS critical data, for at least 10 years. And therefore we will continue to do all the same things that we are currently doing – in particular, supporting the IOP [interoperability] process, continuing to run Tetra events and all the activities that we currently
•
www.dpmrassociation.org •
www.tandcca.com
New York’s buses try Tetra
do. What we’re simply going to do is to expand our activities and look at other solutions that will enhance Tetra’s capabilities.”
A
nother major mobile radio user in North America has
conducted testing of a Tetra digital radio system, following a relaxation of US regulations which formerly excluded the European standard. Based on an open ETSI standard, Tetra systems offer users a feature- rich, interoperable technology from a variety of manufacturers at competitive prices. The two-site pilot system was
Phil Godfrey, of the TCCA: “The fact that we are changing the name does not imply any reduction in support for Tetra and indeed the opposite is likely to be the case”, he says
Project handover in Norway R
esponsibility for building and operating Norway’s
nationwide Tetra network, Nødnett (‘Emergency Network’), is to be transferred at the end of next month from Nokia Siemens Networks to Motorola Solutions. Nødnett is a multi-agency
digital radio communication system owned by a Norwegian
government body, (DNK, the Directorate for Emergency Communication), which is responsible to the Ministry of Justice. After an extended trial in the
Oslo region, Norway’s parliament voted last June to expand Nødnett to full national coverage by the end of 2015 – an ambitious programme calling for some 2000 base stations. The project is the fi rst to have TEDS advanced wireless data services written into its specifi cation. Hitherto, Motorola has been
the supplier of the core Tetra infrastructure for Nødnett, but it will now also be the prime contractor, providing all managed services for the rollout and implementation. “The process leading up to
change of turnkey supplier has been going on for a long time”,
operated by MTA New York City Transit (NYCT), the US’s largest public transport operator, in collaboration with PowerTrunk, the North American offshoot of the Spanish radio manufacturer Teltronic. The pilot demonstrated
commented Tor Helge Lyngstøl, director of DNK. “We regard the change as a positive change. Mission-critical radio solutions are a core area for Motorola, and we are therefore pleased that Motorola’s role in the project is being expanded. Motorola has been a key supplier of the core technology in the Nødnett Project from Day One. This change of contractor therefore entails few changes for the Norwegian government.” Speaking of Motorola
Solutions, Esa Harju, of Nokia Siemens Networks, said: “We believe it has the best fi t to take over responsibility for the Nødnett project, as Nokia Siemens Networks continues to build a sharper focus on its new strategy around mobile broadband with leading commercial operators.”
Tor Helge Lyngstøl, director of DNK, which owns the Norwegian network: “We regard the change as a positive change”, he said
10
the multiple features and functionality of Tetra technology using a range of radio equipment from PowerTrunk, including a telecom switch, base stations, mobile units for buses and support vehicles, handportables, a dispatcher station with two operator positions and a gateway to the telephone network to test cell and PABX/PSTN handovers. “Our Tetra land mobile radio
solution is uniquely suited for transportation systems as proven by the networks we have installed in such major cities as Mexico City, Barcelona, Bogota and Rio”, said José Martín, executive vice president and chief operating offi cer of PowerTrunk. “Now we are proud that such a prominent metropolis as New York City hosted our Tetra pilot for its transit system. I would like to say to American LMR users that Tetra has arrived in the US.”
• MTA New York City Transit’s bus fl eet numbers over 5900 vehicles and carries an average of 2·69 million users each weekday on more than 280 local and express routes. Its subway network has 660 miles of track.
LAND mobile January 2012
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