PTT Interoperability—Sweet Spot for FirstNet?
First, let me be very clear, this is NOT about Mission-Critical PTT (which may someday be available and used for dispatch, day-to-day patrols, and local incidents). This is about FirstNet as a platform to provide interoperable push-to-talk during multi-jurisdictional incidents that is in keeping with the premise that motivated the public safety community and others to seek a solution for interoperable communications starting in the 1990s and culminating with the law creating FirstNet, setting aside the D-Block for additional broadband spectrum, and providing a starter kit of $7 billion.
The primary purpose of FirstNet has always been to provide interoperable communications between and among agencies that have different Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems and, therefore, cannot communicate directly with others at the same incident. This lack of interoperability has been a problem for more than thirty years and even after 911, Katrina, and Sandy revealed to the public, the press, and elected officials that there was a huge problem, it still took the public safety community with support from others until 2012 to establish FirstNet and another five years to become a reality.
FirstNet was designed to provide interoperable data and video, with voice to remain on LMR for many years to come. However, during the time FirstNet was organizing and issuing its RFP for a commercial partner, there were a number of developments in the world of Push-To-Talk voice. The first was that companies such as Qualcomm (QChat), Kodiak (now owned by Motorola), Harris, and ESChat entered the market to provide PTT over broadband.
Read the Entire Post Here
Here are the articles I have selected with the help of Discovery Patterns artificial intelligence
Federated Wireless sees CBRS framework being readily applied to 4.9 GHz
FierceWireless Jul 11 12:15
… as-needed basis without unduly limiting public safety use of the band, according to Federated Wireless. The FCC late last year granted conditional …
Utilities push for expanded access in 4.9 GHz band
FierceWireless Jul 11 12:15
A group of utilities is urging the FCC to expand access in the 4.9 GHz band for critical infrastructure industries (CII), while public safety organizations …
NTIA asks FCC to update Wireless Priority Service
RCR Wireless News Jul 11 04:10
The ability to preempt most regular users, particularly non-911 calls, was one of the top desires of public safety users as the FirstNet network …
NPSTC Agrees with Globalstar’s Spectrum Sharing Inquiry Request
RadioResource Media Group Jul 9 15:20
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) submitted comments supporting a Globalstar request for the FCC to issue a notice …
For Private Enterprise, 4.9 GHz Spectrum Can Enable Reliable, Secure Broadband for Critical …
Enterprise Wireless Alliance Jul 6 18:40
In comments filed in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) on the …
FCC stands by decision to raise broadband prices on American Indians
ArsTechnica: Infinite Loop Jul 6 15:04
FCC denies petition to restore $25 Lifeline subsidy for Tribal residents.
FCC Bars Using Airwaves For Broadband Plan
TV News Check Jul 4 02:30
The news appears to squash the near-term hopes for the network pushed by LightSquared, a Virginia company that is majority-owned by Philip …
5 FirstNet-Ready Tech and Devices
Officer.com Jul 11 12:15
As the announcement states, ” FirstNet is the country’s first nationwide public safety communications platform dedicated to first responders in times of …
Why You Should Care About Narrowband IoT: It’s Not Just a Fashion Trend
Design and Reuse Jul 11 08:50
I read Paula Jones’ recent blog post about NB-IoT applications, and it led me down the rabbit hole: what is narrowband IoT, and why are companies …
Rep. Cole: Noncoms Must Be Protected in C-Band Sharing
Multichannel News Jul 9 13:10
The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications, International, Public Safety and Homeland Security bureaus two weeks ago said they were instituting a …
Motorola Solutions Progresses in Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT) Plugtest and LEX L11 …
Olean Times Herald Jul 9 12:20
… broadband PTT, connecting disparate networks and enabling public safety …
How Sky & Space Global aims to close the digital divide
Software Testing News Jul 4 18:45
We demonstrated the capability of using a standard smartphone and a small narrowband satellite terminal to send a text message, image, voice …
China wins one, loses one in US trade spats
The Register Jul 4 15:20
Meanwhile, China Mobile has been blocked by the United States’ National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) from obtaining …