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New Technologies and Next Generation TETRA Applications
Having just returned from two very interesting and informative days at the TETRA World Congress in Madrid, my thoughts turned to thinking about the next generation of TETRA technology.
I, unfortunately, have more questions than answers and, although it will be some time in the future before we can see any real changes, I feel we need to discuss it now; for instance.
Will the TETRA solution support a broadband function in the future and what would be the realistic timescales for this to be available?
In addition to the availability of full data solutions being available via TETRA, should we in the UK also be looking at following the example of the United States and having dedicated spectrum available for emergency service use that is affordable? I know that discussions are already taking place with the Government about this but should we be raising the profile of this debate?
I sometimes wonder if we fully recognise, and articulate, the obtainable advantages by such an approach and how much safer this would be in the event of a major incident. And, for day-to-day communications by the emergency services as opposed to sharing a network with other possible users on Airwave.
I know from my own experience in working on a PMR (Private Mobile Radio) Network currently being used in part of the Ambulance Service, the ability to measure and control the bandwidth for exclusive use does give organisations a certain peace of mind that is perhaps not so secure in a shared bandwidth scenario.
In conclusion, I feel that perhaps the time is right for us as BAPCO members employed in the public service to encourage discussion around these issues and I invite you all to submit your thoughts and comments, by way of a ‘Letter to the Editor’ of the BAPCO Journal, so that we can raise this issue, or any other area that you may have concerns about, to a higher level of knowledge and debate.
Ray Trotter
President
BAPCO
