4.9 GHz Public Safety Radio - Analysis of Technologies and Markets

Published by: Practel, Inc.

Published: Jul. 1, 2008

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Need

1.2 History

1.2.1 Frequency Mask

1.3 Scope

1.4 Research Methodology

1.5 Target Audience

2.0 4.9 GHz Radio

2.1 General

2.1.1 4.9 GHz Public Safety Radio Applications

2.1.2 FCC Process

2.1.3 ITU

2.2 Eligibility

2.3 Conditions

2.4 Frequencies Allocations

2.4.1 Public Safety Bands

2.5 Users

2.6 Advantages of the 4.9 GHz Band

3.0 Standards and Related Technologies

3.1 FCC

3.2 IEEE 802.11j

3.3 Mesh Networks: Standards

3.3.1 General

3.3.2 IEEE 802.11s

3.3.3 Mesh Networks Standardization Process

3.3.3.1 Wi-Mesh Alliance

3.3.3.2 SEEMesh

3.3.3.3 Other

3.3.3.4 Target

3.4 OFDM

3.5 Multi-radio Platforms

3.6 WiMax

4.0 Market

4.1 General

4.2 Forecast

5.0 Manufactures

Airaya

AirTegrity

Alvarion

Aperto

Azuretec

Airspan

Belair

Carlson Wireless

Cisco

Exalt

Firetide

Fluidmesh Networks

GigaBeam

Hautespot Networks

Hopling

InfiNet

IPMobileNet

LPN Wireless

Med-Media

MeshDynamics

M/A-Com

Motorola

Nortel

PacketHop (SRI International)

Proxim Wireless

RoamAD

Redline

SkyPilot

Solectek

Strix

Teletroncs

Trango Broadband Wireless

Tranzeo

Trimax Wireless

Tropos

Ubiquiti Networks

Zhone Technologies

6.0 Conclusions

Attachment I: FCC Ruling

List of Tables

Table 1: Emergency Services

Table 2: Requirements

Table 3: Power Limits

Table 4: Frequencies Allocations: 4.9 GHz Band

Abstract

Sufficient mobile communication capacity for agencies charged with protecting the public welfare is of critical importance to the overall well-being of the nation. Wireless communications provides a vital component in the nation's public safety and emergency medical infrastructure. Agencies involved in the protection of life and property are able to do their jobs effectively and efficiently only by making extensive use of a wide array of wireless communication options available to them.

This report goal was to assess 4.9 GHz technologies and markets developments in the U.S. This market exclusively serves one client - public safety communities, and it was created by the government to enhance broadband communications between various levels of first responders.

Today, 4.9 GHz public-safety wireless broadband networks finally moved away from experimental deployments and trials to the real world, opening the way for many broadband applications, ranging from instant database access, field reporting and photo transmission as well as streaming video. Wireless video surveillance over the licensed 4.9 GHz public safety band is growing exponentially in the U.S., with significant deployments in Chicago, Dallas, Boston, Phoenix, and West Palm Beach, FL., among others. Most public safety agencies in the U.S. already own a 4.9 GHz license and plan to use it. Network access allows patrolling officers to tap into the video surveillance network to monitor live video feeds as they respond to incidents.

The allocation of 4.9 GHz band offers public safety agencies an opportunity to deploy advanced services unavailable in other bands, such as permanent “hot spot” devices in high-use areas or temporary incident command centers erected at an incident scene. Particular technologies could include wireless personal area networks, hot spot networks, mesh topologies and wireless vehicular area networks. 4.9 GHz radio networking facilitates creation of ad-hoc broadband wireless structures around a person or vehicle, personal telematics, voice, data, video, image, or biometric transmissions, and immediate, high-speed access to information.

This report analyzes:

• The process of 4.9 GHz radio development
• Technological specifics of communications channels based on the 4.9 GHz transmission; in particular-
  • a) Multi-radio platforms
  • b) Utilization of OFDM
  • c) Mesh topology.
• 4.9 GHz radio market
• 4.9 GHz industry and major vendors, including their portfolios.

The 4.9 GHz industry is regulated by the FCC and U.S. public safety organizations; the spectrum was allocated in 2002, but only in 2004 major technical issues were resolved. Uncertainty in technological directions slowed down commercialization of this spectrum, and only in the 2006 time frame a sizable amount of radios was shipped. Currently, the industry is strong, and many major wireless radio vendors are involved in the design and production of 4.9 GHz equipment. Potential applications are endless; the public safety broadband communications market in the U.S. has huge opportunities, and 4.9 GHz equipment works to satisfy the increasing demand of first responders for high-speed communications.

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