Motorola to Release LTE Gear in November

Motorola Solutions 700 MHz LTE networking and device gear will be available for purchase by Public Safety agencies beginning next month, according to an announcement at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in Chicago Monday.

The full commercial launch will make available the vendor giant's first version of fully integrated Public Safety LTE.  They expect the first version to be fully commercially released by November 11th of this year, with everything fully integrated.  Motorola is the first vendor to announce the release of commercial LTE on Band 14.
"We're proud to be there first," said Rick Keith, director of product management, according to Urgent Communications. 
Partnerships with Ericsson and Verizon have been vital to Motorola's end-to-end solution.  The company established a roaming arrangement with Verizon, and will use Ericsson LTE base-station equipment.

60% of Officers Use Consumer Broadband

A survey conducted in Pinellas County, FL by AT&T showed that more than 60% of police officers are using their commercial broadband devices (smart phones, tablets, laptops), to supplement the shortcomings of their agency-issued communications devices.  

This information was provided by Pam Montanari, radio and data-systems manager for Pinellas County, during the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference in Chicago.  Those who doubt the need of the proposed 700 MHz LTE network for Public Safety often criticize the plan by questioning whether officers will actually use wireless broadband technology regularly. 

Of the 60%, 84% say they use these devices daily, 20% say they use these devices in critical situations.  Regulations often prohibit the use of personal devices while on duty, but it seems the operations benefit outweighs the risk of reprimand for most first responders. 

"Some of the most compelling uses of broadband cited by officers were 3D views of floor plans, GIS information, and a host of web applications that can accelerate the identification process and provide valuable evidence, according to the survey," writes Donny Jackson. 

A trial is running this week in Pinellas County of these applications on Alcatel-Lucent's  hosted LTE core.  Montanari notes that the trial does not indicate that the county has chosen its LTE vendor yet, but clearly it is one more agency that is gearing up for utilizing next generation technologies.

Read more at Urgent Communications.

Andrew Seybold: Mission-Crticial Voice and LTE: Be Careful!

Reposted with permission of Andrew Seybold.
This was posted on andrewseybold.com on August 26, 2011:


Do not ignore continued investment in existing mission-critical analog and P25 voice systems because you believe voice over LTE broadband that is mission-critical is just around the corner. Many elected officials in federal, state, and local agencies seem to believe this so continued investment in existing channelized voice systems is not needed. While a lot of progress is being made in the world of broadband voice, it will be sometime in the future (undefined) before all of the pieces and parts of mission-critical voice as defined by NPSTC (soon be to published) are included in LTE. Even then there may be limitations that will hinder the Public Safety community or require some changes to how voice systems are used today.
My view is that our channelized voice systems will be around and needed for at least the next 5-10 years, therefore, continued investment in these systems not only makes sense, it should be a requirement. Progress is being made as you will see below, but even with the definition of mission-critical voice in place I know of no work being done to determine the specific requirements regarding the number of dispatch, coordination, or simplex, talk-around, or peer-to-peer voice channels or circuits that will be required. It is possible that there will be mission-critical voice capabilities on LTE and other broadband networks but that these broadband technologies may not be able to provide the number of voice channels that are used today for major incidents such as wildland fires, etc. It is also possible that broadband voice will not be able to support the number of dispatch areas or zones in use today in major metropolitan areas. It is also possible that the combination of voice and data services will give Public Safety the ability to make changes in the operations to streamline the dispatch and tactical aspects of incidents as well as to operate as it does now.
Where We Are Today; Where We Are Going

As the 700-MHz waiver recipients begin building out their portion of the nationwide 700-MHz broadband network, and as the various committees of the various Public Safety organizations meet and discuss issues, one that keeps coming up is the use of the broadband network for mission-critical voice. I have been saying for a long time now that mission-critical voice (as defined by a recent NPSTC document) is still a long way from becoming real over the LTE broadband network.
However, some progress has been made in recent months. One of the most important elements of Public Safety-grade mission-critical voice has to do with off-network or tactical communications, sometimes referred to by the IT world as peer-to-peer communications. Simply stated, this means the ability for two or more field devices (mobile or handheld) to communicate with each other without having to use a cell site or radio tower system. Many who have discussed this include it as a must-have for times when field units are out of coverage of a network. However, in most cases this type of off-network communications is also a requirement of field units even when they are within network coverage.
Call it what you will—tactical, simplex, talk-around, peer-to-peer—it is the ability for units in the field to be able to communicate directly with each other without any infrastructure required. Today’s Public Safety voice devices all include this feature as standard, but cell phones do not support this mode of operation. I have been skeptical that commercial network operators or others within the LTE broadband community would get behind this mode of communications, but recently, simplex mode communications was introduced at the 3GPP standards body and has been endorsed by some commercial network operators including AT&T, as well as by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In other words, now at least the beginnings of this function are being incorporated into the 3GPP standard for LTE and other broadband wireless technologies. BUT, and this is a big but, it may take years for this to work its way through the 3GPP and be voted on by the membership.
Several federal agencies have funded development work on mission-critical voice over LTE and broadband in general, and several of the bills to reallocate the 700-MHz D Block to Public Safety include additional funding for this type of research and development. However, to date there is no real specification that outlines the number of voice circuits that are or will be needed going forward. If we look back at past major incidents and add up the number of voice circuits that were used at a given incident, is this really the number of voice circuits that will be needed when combined with broadband data services?
For example, if we look at one of the major wildland fires in Southern California over the past few years it is possible to determine how many incident and non-incident voice channels were in use during the incident, but does that translate to how many voice circuits will be needed when we add broadband capabilities into the mix?
The Incident Command System (ICS) clearly defines the roll-out of both the ICS management system as well as the Communications Structure. During a major incident today, the communications leader or someone appointed by him usually completes an ICS form 205, which is the Incident Radio Communications plan that lists the incident name and then radio channel utilization. In most cases, this form is filled out by hand, usually at the staging area where vehicles arriving at the incident report to receive their assignments.
The number of voice radio channels used depends on the size of an incident. During the Tea Fire in Santa Barbara that started on November 13, 2008, burned 1,940 acres, destroyed 210 residences (130 in Santa Barbara, 80 in the county), and caused 30 firefighter injuries, the total number of radio channels in use at the height of the fire was 18 command-and-control channels and 72 tactical or simplex channels used for the fire and by police and other first responders directly involved with the firefighting efforts. Normal operations used an additional 4 dispatch channels and 6 tactical or simplex channels.
The good news is that in California almost all of the fire units that responded from federal, state, and local agencies had multi-channel VHF radios so there was a good amount of interoperable communications available. However, this did not include police, sheriff, highway patrol, and other agencies that were also involved in the firefighting. Coordination between these agencies and the fire command was handled via the dispatch centers and/or the emergency operations center. As you can see, there were a large number of radio channels in use and of these, some of the channels were federal, some state, and others local channels. One of the questions that need to be answered as we add broadband services (data and video) to these types of incidents is how much of the traffic on these channels would be reduced and could a future incident get by with fewer voice channels. Another question is that since this fire covered a large area, could some of the voice channels, in the future, be reused in different sectors? These are questions that can only be answered by those who plan for these types of major incidents and it is their input that will be critical to the development of the requirements for mission-critical voice over broadband systems.
One of the reasons so many voice channels are required during major incidents has to do with the fact that each group assigned to the incident has its own specific task to complete. Since each of these groups must have instant and complete communications capabilities, each group is generally assigned its own voice channel with the commander of each group monitoring both the local working channel and the channel on which they then talk to the next higher ranking officer at the incident. This system has worked well for many years and has provided a highly reliable way of ensuring that anyone who needed help could get on a radio and ask for it, and that someone else, either local to them or within radio range, could hear the call and respond accordingly. Without this type of reliable communications there might have been more injuries or even deaths as a result of someone calling for help and that call being unanswered.
In an ideal world it would be wonderful if every first responder had all of the capabilities needed to do their job and protect themselves and the public in a single device. Such a device would give them all of the voice, video, and data capabilities they need, when they need it. But we don’t have this type of device today. First responders cannot take the time to dial a phone number, and many times they do not have two hands available to change the status of the wireless device or make a menu selection. They need to know that simply by pushing an emergency button or calling for help their location and their need for assistance has been heard and that help is really on the way.
Technology is advancing rapidly and the first responder community, for the first time ever, is embracing a commercial and readily available technology for broadband (LTE). Hopefully, Congress will give the first responders the spectrum they need to build out a nationwide broadband network that will provide fully interoperable communications from border to border and coast to coast. Broadband will provide video for those responding to an incident, which is like giving sight to the blind. It will enable a swat team commander to see, on a mobile device, exactly what his snipers are seeing through their high-powered rifle scopes, all of which translates to better protection for both the citizens they serve and for themselves.
In the future, there is no doubt in my mind the Public Safety community will be able to have a single device that will permit voice, data, and video, but when will that future be? There are, at the moment, about 100 different answers to that question. The general consensus from those working with the technology is that some level of mission-critical voice can and will be available over LTE broadband networks. The remaining questions are how many of the mission-critical voice requirements can actually be met with LTE broadband or future broadband technologies, and how long will it take to be able to prove to the Public Safety community that LTE broadband can provide both voice and data services?
The bottom line is that today’s mission-critical channelized voice systems, and the new systems being deployed, developed, and planned, need to continue to be funded to ensure that when the time comes, the capabilities of LTE broadband can be weighed against the needs of the Public Safety community. If there is a perfect fit, the transition from channelized to broadband mission-critical voice should begin. Perhaps some of the channelized spectrum could be returned to the FCC for reallocation to others but this process should not, today, be viewed as something that will happen overnight but rather that it could take years to accomplish.
Is voice coming to LTE broadband? Yes, it’s the when that is in question. Is mission-critical voice coming to LTE broadband? I hope so, but in the meantime, not maintaining or building new mission-critical Public Safety voice systems should not be an option considered by any local, state or federal agency!
Andrew M. Seybold

LTE Procurement: It's not pretty.

Just like most public safety communications projects, LTE networks are proving difficult for entities to procure.  The challenges are greater with LTE projects because they blaze the trail of broadband- these networks are the first of their kind for public safety.
The obstacles can usually be divided up into two categories:  spectrum and funding.

The FCC granted 700 MHz waivers to 21 governmental agencies last May, so the spectrum is available- and becoming more accessible to agencies.  The funding is also available, with a few of the agencies accessing grants associated with the economic-stimulus package. 

Although the procurement process is expected to take some time, negotiations with vendors have been moving like molasses or not at all.  Only one of the agencies that were granted waivers, Adams County, Colorado, has reached an agreement with a vendor and began the installation process. 

The BayWeb project in San Francisco, Cal. has had its fair share of complications, and they are not alone.  In fact, the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) decided last week to restart its bidding process for its massive P25 and LTE project, after attorneys deemed that the long procurement process did not meet state guidelines.  This news may be disheartening to those who once called LA-RICS the model for all future public safety LTE projects. 

Some say the state buckled under the possibility of legal action from Motorola, who has been outspoken about perceived flaws the LA-RICS procurement process.  Internal attorneys at the state seem to have folded under the pressure, and decided that the process was indeed flawed.  Raytheon, chosen by LA-RICS to work on the project, has been wondering where these voices have been for the past three years they have been working on the project. 

Now, not only does the agency have to go back to the drawing board, but they must return to Washington seeking a waiver for an extension on its $154 million of grant funding (something the federal government has never granted to public safety broadband projects to date).

Public safety entities are already tightening their belts under economic pressure, and they don't have the time for wasted money and resources.  We are living in an age of innovation, and forward motion is necessary to manifest the amazing technology that has come from our generation. 

Our public safety agencies should not be spending their time arguing with lawyers, stumbling over bureaucracy, and battling with politics.  They have a much more important task at hand:  protecting the public.

If your agency has faced negotiation or funding issues, contact EMR Consulting today to gain an ally and powerful tool to help your communications system see success.  We are here to help.

European Commission Concerned About Light Squared

In a letter addressed to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, a European Commission (EC) official outlined concerns about the LightSquared nationwide LTE network, which has been under fire for reported GPS interference and frozen at the FCC by Congress. 

Europe's satellite system, Galileo, is planned to launch by 2015.  In the letter the EC explained that a terrestrial network in mobile satellite service (MSS) spectrum would alter the nature of transmissions in that band.  The neighboring MSS signals are currently operating at similar receive power levels.  If LightSquared launches their network as planned, these transmissions would increase in magnitude- which could severely disrupt the reception of the Galileo system as well as GPS operations.  Galileo receivers in place in the United States will likely be affected by harmful interference from LightSquared base stations, according to the European Space Agency analysis. 

In June, LightSquared submitted a report to the FCC outlining the interference issues, and a three- part solution to the problem.  The report was met with much criticism by authorities across the industry, including the Coalition to Save Our GPS. 

LTE Used for Video Backhaul Over D-Block Waves

The federal park police utilized Alcatel-Lucent's LTE system operating on 700 MHz D-Block spectrum during the Washington, D.C. July 4 celebration this year on the National Mall.  Their video-surveillance system is the first to operate on these waves, which the FCC currently has reserved for commercial auction. 

The video backhaul system they have in place allows fixed surveillance equipment in the area  to send high-definition video and thermal-imaging feeds to officials in a remote location.  Their video-based technology, which included analytic capability, requires robust bandwidth.

Using 700 MHz frequencies allowed the base station to receive signal despite being out of the line of sight, something that would be impossible over a cellular connection because of the caliber of the cameras used.  The FCC granted temporary authority for the federal park police to operate on the D-block spectrum for the event. 

The technology services commander for the U.S. Park Police attributes the success of the network to having dedicated spectrum that did not have to be shared with commercial users. 

What's Next for Sprint?

Sprint Nextel's dance with various data network providers has bloggers and analysts wondering what the company will do next.  Sprint plans to reveal its 4G strategy this summer, and speculations of LTE over WiMAX have been floating around.

Alcatel-Lucent, Samsung, and Ericsson all signed a deal in December to help improve Sprint's network.  Clearwire has historically been a WiMAX provider for Sprint, and now, despite conclusive reports of GPS interference, reports say Sprint plans to become a wholesale user on LightSquared's pending broadband network.  Sprint has neither confirmed nor denied a LightSquared deal, and Clearwire owns enough spectrum to deploy LTE as well as WiMAX. 

To read more, visit Urgent Communications.

Broadband: Motorola Demos 700 MHz LTE

The Philadelphia Police Academy hosted the first demonstration from Motorola Solutions of 700 MHz LTE technology, prioritizing multiple video streams from a dash-mounted camera in a squad car connected with a Band 14 Motorola dongle.  The demo, exploring the technology's ability to prioritize multiple video streams automatically, was attended by Public Safety personnel from the region.  The two-day temporary wired network included video streaming from two fixed cameras transmitted to a "mock command center."  The command center utilized dynamic prioritization, according to Rishi Bhaskar, vice president of private broadband sales for Motorola.

This demonstration blazed trails in its ability to show an integrated interface from a real-time video intelligence (RTVI) application of mixed video streams.  The base station used for the demonstration was developed by Motorola's networks division, and is being sold to Nokia Siemens according to the deal announced in 2010.  The LTE base stations that will be used when in Motorola's Public Safety deployments will be from Ericsson. 

Several government agencies, including Philadelphia, have requested waivers from the FCC to allow Public Safety Broadband spectrum in the 700 MHz band in support of a first-responder LTE network.  Recent voices from Capitol Hill are encouraging legislators to reallocate the 700 MHz D-block spectrum to Public Safety, which would double broadband spectrum space.

See video of the demonstration from Urgent Communications.

APCO: Getting Behind Broadband

Public Safety delegates from North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific voted to formally support LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology as the leading standard in 4G technology in a policy statement known as 4th Generation (4G) Broadband Technologies for Emergency Services.   This decision took place at the meeting of APCO's Global Alliance in London, England.  The statement reads:

"The partner associations of the APCO Global Alliance recognize that Long Term Evolution (LTE) is emerging as the leading standard in 4G technology; being adopted worldwide by the largest mobile communications service providers. Since LTE is a global standard, it is capable of providing emergency service agencies and governmental organizations with a cost-effective way to meet their broadband communications needs and one that gives them a greater selection of devices and applications – a capability that has been sought for years."

The document goes on to cover the benefits of LTE as an international Public Safety standard, citing its "all-IP architecture, spectral efficiency, and bandwidth flexibility." 

This statement was contributed by APCO International's immediate past president, Dick Mirgon:  "The partner associations of the APCO Global Alliance endorse LTE as the global standard for 4G emergency communications broadband networks, in part, to increase our ability to influence the development of LTE standards in support of critical emergency services; and to accelerate development of suitable LTE devices in support of emergency services at reduced equipment costs, providing greater create economies of scale for manufacturing, and promotion of competition."

Vendors: Verizon and Motorola Align for Public Safety

An alliance was announced Wednesday between Motorola Solutions and Verizon Wireless, providing LTE broadband solutions in the 700 MHz band. Funding issues often cause agencies to delay construction and interoperability, or drastically reduce the scale of their initial broadband wireless buildouts. Public-safety customers will have the ability to leverage LTE applications across Verizon's commercial network as a coordinated supplement to a private LTE network and roaming partner when the private network is not available.

“The solution that we’ve worked out with Verizon is to … offer customers the ability of a nationwide, enhanced carrier roaming package that pre-negotiates the technical and some of the business interfaces between private and public networks,” said Rick Keith, Motorola Solutions senior director of LTE product management, according to Urgent Communications. “So, we can facilitate nationwide roaming, we can put in real-time device application control and management and be able to facilitate procedural operations on handsets, whether they’re in public networks or in private networks, so they get a very similar experience.”

Users roaming between private Public Safety networks and Verizon's LTE systems, Motorola devices will be able to operate on the band 14 spectrum, as well as Band 13 Frequencies from Verizon in the 700 MHz band. Also, 2G/3G and Wi-Fi technology will be other enhancements.
For more information on the partnership, see the Urgent Communications article.