Home > Back to Publisher > Report Information

Role of Land Mobile Radio in Public Safety Communications

Practel, Inc.
January 1, 2012
SKU: PT6774113

Abstract Table of Contents Related Reports

The goal of this report is to update (2012) of LMR-related reports published by Practel in 2010-2011. The report is written for a large audience of technical, managerial and sales staff of companies involved in the design, manufacturing and utilization of Land Mobile Radio; with the emphasis on Public Safety Communications (PSC) applications.

Particular, this report includes:

1. The updated analysis of the phased development of P25 radio. The current status of the technology, markets and standards and survey of vendors are presented. Though the standardization process started almost twenty years ago, commercialization is still slow; and the market development is unsatisfactory. This situation is addressed by all parties involved in the PSC development in the U.S.

2. The updated analysis of the phased development of TETRA radio. This technology found more geographically spread market segments than P25. Its Release II offers a combination of voice and data transmission that brings sufficient benefits to the users; but the growth of markets still does not satisfy the TETRA community.

3. The analysis of major trends in the P25 and TETRA radio developments, including a) Software Defined Radio - SDR. SDR platforms bring many benefits for PSC, including multi-band transmission and interoperability, b) Utilization of the 700 MHz band, c) Wider acceptance of broadband services.

4. The updated analysis of narrow-banding LMR radios, including NXDN and MOTOTRBO. The NXDN radio development is a result of joint efforts of two companies, Icom and Kenwood and it is based on the FDMA technology. The companies developed two lines of products, IDAS (Icom) and NEXEDGE (Kenwood); these radios were implemented with many advanced technological features, including 6.25 kHz channels. At the same time, Motorola introduced its MOTOTRBO line of digital LMRs, which also utilized newer technologies and is based on the TDMA technology.

5. The analysis of the 4.9 GHz radio technology for broadband PSC. The FCC allocated the 4940-4990 MHz spectrum for broadband PSC. The technology can utilize the existing Wi-Fi ICs, and it supports long-reach communications with speeds 50 Mb/s and up. It utilizes a) OFDM, b) Multi-radio platforms, and c) Self-healing and self-organized mesh topology. One of the major 4.9 GHz radio applications for PSC is temporary fast-deployable networks.

Practel will continue the analysis of LMR technologies and markets trends: dynamics of developments require a periodical update of reports.

1.0 Introduction: 1.1 Current Situation; 1.2 Requirements to Public Safety Radio; 1.3 Scope and Goals; 1.4 Research Methodology; 1.5 Target Audience
2.0 PSC Spectrum: 2.1 U.S.; 2.2 EU
3.0 Project P25: 3.1 Standardization Process and Technologies
4.0 P25 Development-Phase I: 4.1 General Mission and Objectives; 4.2 Technical Highlights- Interfaces; 4.3 Security; 4.4 Coding; 4.5 Frequency Bands; 4.6 P25 Voice Messaging; 4.7 Major Improvements; 4.8 Services; 4.9 Network Scenario; 4.10 Summary
5.0 P25 Phase II: 5.1 Transition; 5.2 Scope; 5.3 Time
6.0 P25 Radio Market Analysis: 6.1 General; 6.2 Geography; 6.3 Market Drivers; 6.4 Market Forecast
7.0 P25 Radio Vendors: Catalyst; Daniels; Datron; Digital Voice System; Cassidian Communications; EF Johnson; Etherstack; Harris; Kenwood; Midland; Motorola Solutions; Northern Airborne; PowerTrunk; Pyramid Communications; Relm; Raytheon JPS; Technisonic Industries; Thales; Tait Electronics; Teltronic; Westel; Wireless Pacific
8.0 TETRA: 8.1 General; 8.2 TETRA: Scope-Release I; 8.3 P25 and TETRA; 8.4 Security; 8.5 Summary; 8.6 TETRA Release II; 8.7 Market Analysis
9.0 NXDN and MOTOTRBO: 9.1 FCC Requirements; 9.2 NXDN Forum; 9.3 Origin; 9.4 Major Differences; 9.5 Spectrum; 9.6 NXDN and dPMR; 9.7 Updates; 9.8 NEXEDGE; 9.9 IDAS; 9.10 Industry; 9.11 NXDN Market Perspective and Applications; 9.7 MotoTRBO
10.0 Broadband PSC: 10.1 Need; 10.2 History; 10.3 Broadband PSC and 4.9 GHz Radio
11.0 Conclusions
Attachment I: P25 Service Availability Matrix
Attachment II: P25 Standards
Attachment III: Countries with P25-Compliant Radio
Attachment IV: FCC Ruling- 4.9 MHz Radio
Figures: Figure 1: FCC PSR Spectrum Allocation; Figure 2: 800 MHz Reconfiguration Plan; Figure 3: 700 MHz Band; Figure 4: APCO Project 25 Interface Committee; Figure 5: Generic-P25 System Structure; Figure 6: P25 System - Major Interfaces; Figure 7: ISSI-P25 System-to-System; Figure 8: ISSI-Roaming; Figure 9: State and Local PSC Spectrum; Figure 10: Revised Frequency Plan; Figure 11: Revised Spectrum (Upper 700 MHz sub-band); Figure 12: 700 MHz Auction; Figure 13: Example-Network Scenario; Figure 14: TAM: PSC P25 Equipment Sales (U.S. and Canada, $B); Figure 15: P25 Radio Major Applications; Figure 16: TETRA Association Structure; Figure 17: TETRA Release I; Figure 18: TETRA Interworking Illustration; Figure 19: TETRA Interoperability Interfaces; Figure 20: Network Scenarios; Figure 21: TETRA Release I Interfaces; Figure 22: TETRA: Spectrum Allocation; Figure 23: Phased Approach - TETRA and P25; Figure 24: TETRA RII Application Developments; Figure 25: Directions; Figure 26: TAPS; Figure 27: TEDS RF Channel Characteristics; Figure 28: Spectral Efficiency; Figure 29: Rates and Range; Figure 30: TETRA TEDS Characteristics; Figure 31: Illustration of TETRA Market Geography (2010); Figure 32: TETRA Segmentation by Industries (2010); Figure 33: TAM: TETRA Equipment Global Sales ($B); Figure 34: TAM: TETRA BS & Associated Equipment Global Sales ($B); Figure 35: TAM: TETRA BS & Associated Equipment Global Sales (Unit 000); Figure 36: FCC Timeline; Figure 37: Adopted Frequency Band Plan (UHF); Figure 38: Adopted Frequency Band Plan (VHF); Figure 39: TAM: U.S. NXDN Equipment Sales ($B); Figure 40: Masks Comparison; Figure 41: Public Safety Communications Frequencies Allocations; Figure 42: Mesh Network Diagram; Figure 43: Addressable Market: U.S. PSC 4.9 GHz Mobile Equipment ($M); Figure 44: TAM: PSC 4.9 GHz Network Infrastructure (U.S., $M)
Tables: Table 1: P25 Advantages and Issues; Table 2: CAI Characteristics; Table 3: PSR Bands; Table 4: P25 Services; Table 5: Phase II Documentation; Table 6: Structure of Purchasing; Table 7: TETRA Established; Table 8: TETRA Release I-Major Characteristics; Table 9: TETRA Improvements; Table 10: Applications (Release II); Table 11: Evolution of TETRA Applications; Table 12: IDAS Products; Table 13: Power Limits; Table 14: Emergency Services; Table 15: Requirements; Table 16: Frequencies Allocations: 4.9 GHz Band; Table 17: Bandwidth and Power - 4.9 GHz Band

Role of Land Mobile Radio in Public Safety Communications

Share this report

Other tasks

Research Assistance

Related Markets

Networks Reports

Free Alert Me service