Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, July 20, 2017

MCPTT over LTE and Direct Mode
[Not quite] Mission Critical PTT over LTE is being tested and put into service for live network beta testing. Two things are missing from these trials and tests: a mission-critical or public safety-grade network for the Mission Critical Push-To-Talk application to run over and perhaps more importantly, the way forward to provide direct-mode communications. The UK’s LTE system for public safety to go live in 2020 and replace its existing Tetra system is probably, at the moment, the most robust of the existing LTE networks available.

Recently in France, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) held MCPTT testing sessions and a number of vendors participated to see how well they performed and if they met the 3GPP Release of LTE version 13, which includes specifications for on-network push-to-talk services but does not yet address the issue of direct-mode on and off-network communications. In many instances, direct-mode PTT is as important and in some instances, more important than network-based PTT services. While I recently wrote an Advocate about PTT over LTE and over Land Mobile Radio (LMR) that detailed some of this information, there are a number of things happening in Europe and especially the United Kingdom that could have far reaching effects on how and when PTT services are actually deployed over LTE on and off-network systems.  Read the full blog here

FirstNet Network Celebrates Momentous Week for Public Safety with First 5 StatesWebWire via Google Alerts Jul 19 14:45 FirstNet Network Celebrates Momentous Week for Public Safety with First 5 States …

Senate Panel Eyes FirstNet Progress This WeekOccupational Health and Safety via Google Alerts Jul 18 10:10 … and AT&T’s progress to date and the anticipated timeline to build, operate, and maintain the planned nationwide public safety broadband network.

States Deserve a Complete Picture in Evaluating FirstNet.AT and T Coverage PlansMissionCritical Jul 18 10:05 In evaluating its options, the goal of every state should be to obtain the best possible network coverage for its first responders. The safety of first responders and the public must be the primary concern in evaluating the AT&T/FirstNet plan. To conduct a reasonably thorough examination, the governors and their teams must have access to the necessary financial, technical and legal information regarding AT&T’s commitments to deliver the NPSBN. read more

Wyoming OKs State Plan for FirstNet’s Public Safety Broadband NetworkNormangee Star via Google Alerts Jul 13 05:00 Governor Terry McAuliffe on Monday signed a letter of intent declaring that the commonwealth will allow the First Responder Network Authority …

Iowa set to become fifth state to opt-in to nationwide public safety broadband networkHomeland Preparedness News via Google Alerts Jul 20 08:50 … become fifth state to opt-in to nationwide public safety broadband network …

FirstNet States Now Number FiveTelecompetitor via Google Alerts Jul 19 19:20 In return, AT&T will share the 20 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band that FirstNet has been allocated. The emergency network’s use will be …

Iowa to Transform Communications for Public Safety; Governor Reynolds Approves Buildout Plan …Cellular News via Google Alerts Jul 19 11:30 Today, Governor Kim Reynolds announced her decision to accept the FirstNet and AT&T plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the State’s …

Iowa Opts in to FirstNetMissionCritical Jul 19 10:03 Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg announced the state’s participation in the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) at a weekly press conference. Iowa is the fifth state to opt in to network after Virginia, Wyoming, Arkansas and Kentucky. read more

Kentucky latest state to opt in to FirstNet NetworkGovernment Security News Jul 19 09:04 Top Priority Sector: communications Image Caption: Bevin RESTON, VA July 14, 2017 Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin made his decision to accept the FirstNet and AT&T* plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the Commonwealth’s public safety community. This will make Kentucky one of the first states in the country to “opt in” to FirstNet and bring advanced technologies that will help first responders save lives and protect communities. Homepage position: 1 read more

Iowa joins FirstNet networkTelecompaper via Google Alerts Jul 19 02:45 … announced her decision to accept the FirstNet and AT&T plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the state’s public safety community.

AT&T, FirstNet officials shed light on near-term implementation effortsUrgent Communications via Google Alerts Jul 18 19:20 FirstNet and AT&T officials have long stated that public-safety agencies within …

Wyoming’s SPOC Provides Insights on the State’s FirstNet Opt-In DecisionMissionCritical Jul 18 10:05 MissionCritical Communications interviewed Troy Babbitt, Wyoming’s single point of contact (SPOC), about the state’s decision to opt in to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). read more

FCC Requests Comment on WiMAX Forum’s AeroMACS PetitionMissionCritical Jul 20 10:03 The FCC requested comment on a petition filed by the WiMAX Forum that proposed service rules for the Aeronautical Mobile Airport Communications System (AeroMACS). AeroMACS refers to a collection of high data rate wireless networks that are used in accordance with international standards for airport surface operations to provide broadband communications between aircraft and other vehicles, as well as between fixed critical assets. read more

The challenge of connectivity in remote/rural areasBusiness Review Europe via Google Alerts Jul 20 05:26 One answer lies in investing in narrow-band connectivity services provided by nano-satellites. Building a constellation of nano-satellites which covers …

FCC Noms Grilled On Net Neutrality, 5G At Senate HearingLaw360 via Google Alerts Jul 20 04:10 … for her tenure: public safety networks, universal access furthered by broadband deployment and promoting competition and consumer protection.

NBTC approves bandwidth for IoT, Sino-Thai railwayBangkok Post via Google Alerts Jul 19 23:10 Telecom operators have begun developing Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) through their wireless broadband networks and existing spectrum …

Maritime Satellite Connectivity Moves to High Gear via HTS AdoptionGlobeNewswire via Google Alerts Jul 19 22:26 NSR’s Maritime Satcom Markets, 5 Edition continues as a dedicated focus on the Maritime satcom markets, from opportunities in narrowband …

FCC Noms Grilled On Net Neutrality, 5G At Senate HearingLaw360 via Google Alerts Jul 19 21:00 Rosenworcel’s testimony during the two-and-a-half-hour nomination hearing laid out her priorities for her tenure: public safety networks, universal …

FCC Issues Whopping $120 Million Forfeiture Against Massive Spoofed Robocall SchemeLexology via Google Alerts Jul 19 17:25 But according to the Federal Communications Commission, robocalls can actually pose a serious threat to public safety. If a robocalling campaign is …

Light up, light up: National Broadband Plan could bring 2600 jobs to rural IrelandSiliconrepublic.com via Google Alerts Jul 19 13:35 The report calls for new ways to encourage car-sharing to discourage multi-car households and on-street urban parking and to improve connectivity of …

Internet of Things wars: Did T-Mobile just bet on the wrong horse?Verdict via Google Alerts Jul 19 10:55 Network operators have two new weapons in the battle to own the Internet of Things (IoT) Narrowband IoT and LTE-M and picking the eventual …

Major Tech Firms Pressure FCC to Stay the Net Neutrality CourseE-Commerce Times Jul 19 07:00 The Internet Association, which represents 40 leading technology companies — including Facebook, Google, Amazon and others — on Monday filed comments with the FCC, urging it to maintain Net neutrality regulations enacted during the Obama administration. The rules have created a level playing field that has helped fuel innovation in the broadband Internet space, according to IA.

ZTE unveils NB-IoT based intelligent energy management systemTA News RSS Jul 19 06:30 ZTE has released an intelligent energy management system designed to operate over Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) network, which has been installed as a pilot project in Zhangjiang Intelligent Park. The system leverages IoT technologies for energy-saving and emission reduction management. For technology enterprises, laboratory equipment accounts for a high percentage of electricity consumption to ensure efficient operations. However, equipment often remains idle outside of office hours. With ZTE’s NB-Io

T-Mobile completes live network tests of Narrowband IoT in Las VegasConverge! Network Digest via Google Alerts Jul 19 00:10 Narrowband IoT or NB-IoT is an evolution of LTE technology built on industry standards and uses very small amounts of dedicated spectrum to carry …

The Cloud Comes to You: AT&T to Power Self-Driving Cars, AR/VR and Other Future 5G …GuruFocus.com via Google Alerts Jul 18 23:45 We expect to see more applications for EC in areas like public safety that will be enabled by the FirstNet wireless broadband network.

Iowa becomes fifth state to announce FirstNet ‘opt-in’ decisionUrgent Communications via Google Alerts Jul 18 16:45 The network builds on AT&T’s existing footprint to expand coverage and capacity. AT&T has invested nearly $150 million in its Iowa network infrastructure …

Frontier Communications Reaches Connect America Fund Milestone in Nine StatesBusiness Wire Jul 18 12:10 NORWALK, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Frontier Communications (NASDAQ:FTR) announced the company has reached a milestone requirement of the Connect America Fund program (CAF) well ahead of schedule. The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) program rules associated with CAF require companies that accepted the funds to deploy broadband to 40 percent of the eligible locations by the end of 2017. As of June 30th, Frontier had reached the 40 percent milestone in nine states: Arizona, Connecticut, Ge

5G deployment in India will happen in line with global timeline: HuaweiETTelecom.com via Google Alerts Jul 18 00:25 3GPP has standardized narrowband IOT , this technology will basically be the first set of standardized 3GPP technology to drive the IoT, which we call …

Wyoming joins FirstNetThe Mobile Globe via Google Alerts Jul 17 19:26 FirstNet and AT&T will build, operate and maintain a highly secure wireless broadband communications network for Wyoming’s public safety …

FEMA Schedules Next National EAS TestRadio World via Google Alerts Jul 17 17:40 The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission has already released instructions as to how …

T-Mobile’s List of Network Firsts Grows Longer: Now, the Un-carrier is First with Narrowband IoTBusiness Wire via Google Alerts Jul 13 09:25 The field tests were conducted in partnership with Qualcomm and Ericsson across multiple sites on T-Mobile’s live commercial LTE network in Las …

Broadband Providers Tell Supreme Court FCC Lacked Authority For Net Neutrality RulesMediaPost Communications via Google Alerts Jul 13 05:35 The net neutrality rules, passed in 2015 by the FCC, reclassified broadband …

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