You’re keen to offer broadband to your professional network users and want a stress-free evolution towards it – but do you know the three key things that will ensure it all goes without a hitch?
There’s no great secret - an IP backbone, a focus on network experience and the ability to handle both PMR and broadband will put you on the right road.
Get an IP backbone to support better public safety apps
The move to IP-based transmission is unstoppable. For example, Tetrapol voice services can share a common IP backbone with data applications (with no capacity limitations) and with other solutions. This makes an IP backbone a tempting option. It is easier to plan resilience for the network too, which means more reliable services.
The steps in Tetrapol network modernization and in TETRA network modernization include setting up an IP backbone.
Now that it’s easier to build capacity and now that costs are falling thanks to growing competition, it’s no wonder that IP transmission is on the rise. And building your IP backbone can pay off both now and in the future: OPEX savings, easier system level integration, easier and better disaster recovery today, with more capacity and flexibility tomorrow.
Focus on your users with mission-critical broadband
Improving the way users experience the network is another aspect to get right. They’ll want new applications, new features, new devices and innovative ways to use existing services.
Solutions that give benefits today and in the long term are best – in particular, look out for those that can help you bridge the gap between existing narrowband networks and broadband solutions.
When you need a bridge between TETRA and broadband, for example, you should take a look at the hybrid Tactilon Dabat device. It features a special Hybrid Roaming solution which means that the user will be able to communicate as long as there is either TETRA or LTE network service available. This solution is one of the best examples of LTE, TETRA and an application working together.
When investing in broadband, it’s important to ensure of the essentials of public safety services – high availability, excellent reliability and uncompromised security.
Also, when you invest is as important as what you invest in. Network modernization offers three main attractions:
- lower maintenance costs by using more modern technology
- more reliable services by replacing older equipment
- new service possibilities for users.
Hybrid networks for both PMR and broadband users
Hybrid networks give the best of both worlds – they let public safety users enjoy mission-critical voice and data, as well as getting all the well-known benefits of broadband.
There are challenges though. A user will be a subscriber in more than one network and may also have more than one radio or mobile. How can users be sure their subscriber data is secure? And that their subscriber identities and devices are in control?
To make it all work smoothly, operators need a solution that can manage hybrid networks, devices and broadband services.
Hand-picked content for you:
When your organization has both smartphones and PMR radios in use, some people will carry both devices and be subscribers in two different networks. How can you stay on top in terms of subscriber management? Take a look at the post: "What makes a great user management tool for hybrid networks" - it has very good pointers.
IP backbone, focus on users, serve both PMR and broadband - when you’ve ticked all three boxes, you’re ready and a smooth path towards mission-critical broadband is yours for the taking.
Here's a must-read document when you want to adopt mobile broadband as part of your communications. Learn why evolution is so much better than disruption, and see how to minimize risks – download the paper “How to minimize risks when introducing mission-critical broadband”
And if you want to know more about the evolution path to mobile broadband and mobile apps, take a look at these 14 great resources that help you evolve your PMR network to broadband, provided by Key Touch magazine.
Editor's note: This blog post was updated on 7 August 2019 to include links to new, relevant contents.
