The move by Myndigheten för Samhällsskydd och Beredskap (MSB) follows the recent announcement by GCF and TCCA of the support for Broadband Mission Critical Services certification programme. This began with 3GPP’s Release-14 MCPTT specifications.
System architect for MSB’s Rakel Generation 2, Anders Granath, said: “For the first time, MCS product vendors can demonstrate conformance of their MCS clients and devices based on global standards maintained by 3GPP. MSB is committed to support this certification.
“Our GCF membership sends a clear message that broadband mission critical services, based on global standards, are becoming a reality in Sweden.”
Speaking in a joint statement, a GCF/TCCA spokesperson said: “The GCF certification programme assures device-network and client-server compliance to standards for mission critical devices and services, as well as contributing to reduce testing costs and accelerate time-to-market.
“Members of both organisations participate in the mission critical services work stream. This sets [out] to align and speed up the market availability of certified 3GPP standards-based mission critical services and devices.”
The spokesperson continued: “MCCOs are key stakeholders in the GCF ecosystem for mission critical services. Joining the GCF allows MCCOs to participate in [its] meetings and agreement groups.
“[It also allows them to] introduce and lead work items for the introduction of new technologies and standards, access the device certification criteria database, obtain detailed certification data provided by the mission critical product vendors, and become field trial qualified networks.”
GCF CEO Lars Nielsen said: “We are pleased to welcome MSB as the first mission critical communications operator, joining the Global Certification Forum. With other MCCOs and suppliers following, interoperable, 3GPP standards-based mission critical services and devices will soon become a reality.”
