Welcome
OCTOBER 2020
Negotiating the
new normal
CCT editor Philip Mason introduces Critical
Communications Week, the new online experience
designed to bring the sector together
At the risk of stating the obvious, 2020 has hardly been what you would
call an easy year for anyone, not least those with a stake in the critical
communications sector.
This includes the likes of public safety users who, thanks to COVID-19, now
find themselves facing both an increased workload as well as even more hazardous
working conditions than before. At the same time – as indicated by Motorola’s vicepresident
for Latin America in this issue – certain global critical comms markets could
potentially take many months to recover.
Another insidious effect of this pandemic is the way it has limited basic human
contact, not only with friends and family but also with colleagues. This too has put
the sector, to a degree, on the back foot, in particular affecting our previously taken
for granted ability to network and swop ideas in the ‘physical’ space.
With that in mind, TCCA and Mark Allen Exhibitions is proud to present Critical
Communications Week, an innovative
online experience designed to help drive
An insidious effect
the sector forward as we negotiate our
of this pandemic
way through the ‘new normal’. Turn to
is the way it has
page 15 of this issue for the CCWeek
limited basic
show guide, where you will find details
of all the speakers and exhibitors, as well
human contact
as other features such as this year’s virtual ICCAs.
As detrimental as Coronavirus continues to be, it would also be wrong to say that
nothing has been achieved this year. Quite the opposite is true, in fact, as you will see
when you flick through the rest of the issue.
Those with an interest in mission-critical broadband, for instance, should turn to
our exclusive interview with the Norwegian DSB’s Nina Myren about the continuing
evolution of Nødnett.
On page 47, meanwhile, Nokia and BT discuss the ongoing take-up of 5G in
the industrial sector, focusing in particular on how to sell the use-case. Finally,
ETSI’s Brian Murgatroyd takes us through the continuing process of TETRA
standardisation, specifically in relation to hybridisation and security (page 54).
Stay safe, and see you at CCWeek.
Philip Mason, editor
MISSION STATEMENT
Critical Communications Today
provides the global missioncritical
community with insight
into the latest technology
and best practice required
to ensure that its members
always have access to the
instant, one-to-many wireless
communications that can make
all the difference in moments
of crisis.
We are dedicated to providing
our readers with the knowledge
they need when determining
their critical communications
strategies and procurements,
though delivering up-to-theminute
accurate information on
industry trends, developments,
and deployments, as well as
the latest new products and
services. Our journalists are
committed to easing out the
little details from your peers
that will allow you to draw
on the industry’s collective
experience of deploying and
implementing new projects
and systems.
We work to stimulate and
focus debates on the topics
that matter most and provide
our readers with a means to
raise their concerns and speak
frankly about their work and
the lessons they’ve learned
while delivering the devices and
networks that the world’s blue
light organisations depend on.
4 www.criticalcomms.com October 2020
/www.criticalcomms.com