Motorola Solutions and Ericsson have today (24 February) announced that they will develop next-generation push-to-talk communications for the public safety market, creating a way for traditional radio communications to integrate with LTE broadband networks.
The two companies together with Telstra will develop the technology through concept testing in Australia and collaborate in standards forums globally to develop a solution that will meet public safety users’ requirements.
The collaboration will provide standards-based features important to public safety users including:
- Optimised push-to-talk latency to deliver voice communications with minimal delays;
- Flexible talk group management integrated across both radio and broadband networks; and
- Call preemption for LTE devices such as smart phones, tablets and desk top computers.
The partnership will draw on Ericsson’s “flexible and efficient network infrastructure”, Motorola Solution’s experience in providing mission-critical communications for public safety and Telstra’s network resources and expertise in defining and deploying next-generation communications standards and capabilities.
Next-generation push-to-talk is a key component of LTE-based public safety, it will complement the mission-critical capabilities provided by the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) networks that agencies depend on today and extend those networks to a greater number of users carrying smart phones and other devices. The interoperability of next-generation push-to-talk with existing TETRA and P25 systems will provide agencies with greater capacity in times of emergency.
Bruce Brda, executive vice president Products and Services with Motorola Solutions said his company’s involvement in the initiative would advance both the standards and technologies needed to extend the reach of public safety’s mission critical LMR networks.
“This project is part of our vision for smart public safety, Next-Generation Mobile Intelligence, that is helping agencies deliver better community safety outcomes through a dynamic mix of technologies. Connecting a greater number of public safety officials will help to increase situational awareness and efficiency among first responders in the field.”
“Telstra plays a leading role in developing and defining the standards for services including next-generation push to talk,” said Mike Wright, group managing director networks at Telstra. “In the future this technology will provide a platform to deliver greater multi-media communications to front line responders.”
“Providing a leading LTE public safety capability is a key objective for Telstra with its Telstra LANES® (LTE Advanced Network for Emergency Services) advanced network solutions. A mission-critical push to talk capability is part of our vision for public safety communications via LANES® and delivers our mission-critical customers a compelling solution to extend voice to more of their staff.”
Per Narvinger Head of 4G/5G RAN, Ericsson said: “We are pleased to be working with our partner Motorola Solutions and to support Telstra’s early trials and introduction of next-generation push-to-talk to the Australian market. Ericsson has long supported LTE as the best path forward for public safety agency communications and this is another important step in this direction.”
