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Evolution of the use-case
COVID-19
Chair of ETSI’s Technical Committee for TETRA and Critical Communications Evolution,
Brian Murgatroyd, talks to Philip Mason about the future of narrowband
notwithstanding, the
biggest current talking
point for the sector is the
way in which broadband
critical communications technology is
beginning – slowly but surely – to steal
a march on its narrowband equivalent.
As discussed elsewhere in this issue,
for instance, we are already starting to
see numerous examples in the public
safety space, not only in relation to
national roll-outs, but also
individual MNO contracts. At the
same time, meanwhile, we are also
seeing the integral role being played by
broadband in the burgeoning ‘Industry
4.0’ concept.
As exciting as all this undoubtedly
is, of course, the other side of the
conversation is what the future
might hold for the aforementioned
narrowband technology. Will
organisations even be using the likes of
TETRA in 10 or 20 years and, if so,
what might that usage look like?
One answer to this can potentially be
found in a piece of research published
by IHS Markit this time last year,
which concluded that demand for
TETRA is actually likely to increase, at
least in the short term. According to the
organisation, this will be led primarily
by the industrial user vertical (eight
per cent compound growth by 2023),
there will still be questions to answer,
such as whether that will be on its own
or in conjunction with voice provided
by narrowband.
“TETRA is also incredibly reliable,
something which – again – could
potentially be a factor if the majority of
public safety broadband networks are
likely to be operated off the back of preexisting
commercial offerings. This is by
no means a straightforward question.”
Going back to the subject of
standardisation as an indicator of
future value, it is no surprise to learn –
certainly given the above answer – that
a key area of focus is the interworking
piece. This is something which is
being demonstrated across the world,
whether it is the Norwegian authorities
rolling out Motorola’s Kodiak solution,
or the Kuwaiti government’s recent
procurement of Airbus’s Tactilon
Dabat device.
“Hybridisation is a natural and
important part of our work going
forward,” says Murgatroyd. “We
need to cater for people who want to
closely followed by transport, utilities
and public safety.
More reassurance, meanwhile,
is provided by the hard work still
being carried out in order to improve
TETRA as a standard going forward.
This is occurring in a variety of realms,
including security, as well as the
interoperability necessary for successful
broadband/narrowband interworking.
Focus on interworking
As chair of ETSI’s Technical
Committee for TETRA and Critical
Communications Evolution, Brian
Murgatroyd is in a uniquely informed
position to answer the questions posed
above. Discussing his views on the
future of narrowband technology in an
increasingly complicated marketplace,
he says: “It’s true that a lot of
national communications systems are
going over to broadband, which you
can understand due to the potential
for enhanced services such as
streaming video.
“At the same time, that doesn’t
necessarily apply to all groups of critical
communications users, or indeed
other TETRA users. There’s a large
proportion of the market that still
only requires – or indeed prefers – a
narrowband service.”
He continues: “If user organisations
do require broadband, meanwhile,
There is a large
proportion of the market
which still only requires – or
indeed prefers – the use
of a narrowband service
54 www.criticalcomms.com October 2020
/www.criticalcomms.com