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Ready for BAPCO 2008?
With only just over three months to go before BAPCO 2008 takes place in London, everyone is wondering what delights are in store for visitors. Ann Marie Knegt talks to some of the speakers to find out a few of the issues that will be raised at the popular workshops.
The format of this year’s BAPCO Conference (22 – 24 of April 2008, Business Design Centre, Islington, London) has changed and due to the great success of last year’s conference sessions an extra afternoon filled with workshops has been added to the programme, commencing on the 22nd of April.
BAPCO President Ray Trotter will officially open the conference, followed by Phil Kidner, Chief Executive Officer of the TETRA Association, who will chair a workshop on the future of TETRA in relation to mission critical networks. The afternoon of the 22nd will cover four themes including a presentation from Nick Mitchell Briggs, the User Assurance Co-ordinator for Airwave.
"Existing users will be asking themselves if it is viable to stay with a TETRA-based system, or whether there are other suitable technologies available,” Phil Kidner told BAPCO Journal, adding that he believes it is of prime importance to understand exactly what the mission critical user requirements are – and not just for Airwave users, but also business users around the world.
The second theme the workshop will tackle is how to keep TETRA technology up to date, and how it then should meet the future requirements of Airwave. Seeing that the first Airwave users have been on the network since the year 2000, Phil feels that some users may believe the technology is becoming old fashioned. “The TETRA Association has to develop the standard and meet the changing requirements.”
Other highlights of the workshop will include a discussion on the implementation and benefits of TETRA 2, particularly TEDS high speed data for TETRA and the possibility of a new codec and range extension for air to ground.
Phil expects that there will always be a call for a wide area system with features such as secure voice communication, PPT, immediate response and group calls. He believes that TETRA offers this functionality better than any other technology in the world, for mission critical use. “Clearly TETRA data rates are regarded by some as pedestrian. The Association has developed TETRA 2 to increase the data rates to potentially 600 kbits per second.
"If someone wants to send a large amount of data, there is a need for additional spectrum. If one or two channels adjacent to current voice communications are found, then TETRA 2 would allow an increase of data rates of up to 150 kb per second, which will eat almost every application that is currently out there.”
It is imperative, says Phil, that mission critical users lobby their national governments for extra spectrum for public safety networks, because whilst in the US the Government has made 700 MB available for its public safety network, nothing like that has been done in Europe.
“If national Governments do not take any action they will be forcing public safety onto public systems that do not meet mission critical requirements.”
Phil is keen to discuss the issues that will be raised in the workshop in more detail and is inviting everyone that has an opinion on these subjects to take part. Also present will be representatives from Motorola and EADS, who will express their opinion on the future of TETRA.
This meeting will conclude the first day of the conference and delegates will then attend the BAPCO 2008 opening dinner and drinks reception during which the keynote speech will be delivered by Admiral Lord West of Spithead, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Terrorism and Security, Home Office.
The conference will continue next day and close on the 24th of April with a BAPCO Super Session.
BAPCO Exhibition
Running in parallel with the conference is the annual BAPCO Exhibition (23-24 April) and even at this early stage, exhibition organisers Brintex say that a great number of exhibitors have already signed up. Here are some of the exhibiting companies and the services they will be presenting.
Analysys Mason
Contact: Bridie Douglas (stand 216)
Analysys Mason is a telecommunications and IT convergence consultancy providing business solutions to organisations worldwide. The telecommunications and media industry, governments and corporate users worldwide choose Analysys Mason as their advisors to help them achieve sustainable business benefits. The company assist its clients in meeting challenges in strategy, market intelligence, technology and operations.
www.analysysmasongroup.com
APD Communications Ltd
Contact: Alaine Moore (stand 308)
APD provides key capabilities in support of forces’ drive to deliver top quality, citizen-focused policing. The company delivers range of solutions to address demand resolution and incident management activities.
Working with our command and control partners, APD provides a complete control room solution. Visit the APD stand to see a flexible, fully modular control room solution.
Applied Satellite Technology Ltd
Contact: Harvey Hipperson (stand 460)
Applied Satellite Technology Ltd are suppliers of robust satellite communications geared towards bespoke requirements, ranging from voice to satellite broadband solutions.
www.satcomms.com
ï Arqiva
Richard Bennett (stand 412, customer lounge and meeting room – rooms C & H)
Arqiva will be exhibiting a selection of the frontline communications services it offers for public sector organisations in the UK and Ireland including its next generation mobile data solutions, managed services modules, private mobile radio services, telecommunications solutions, CDR Analysis, coverage analysis and terminals Managed Service.
www.arqiva.com/publicsafety
Computer Aided Development Corporation Limited (Cadcorp)
Contact: Martin McGarry (stand 422)
Cadcorp will be exhibiting SIS – Spatial Information System suite of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software. Encompassing desktop GIS modules, web-based GIS software (GeognoSIS.NET), software developer kits and a mobile data capture solution.
www.cadcorp.com
Intergraph
Contact: Nick Chorley (stand 318)
Intergraph's stand will feature the latest release of its command and control platform, I/CAD. As well as supporting in excess of 100 public safety and security organisations across Europe, I/CAD also provides the core of Intergraph's key infrastructure, transport and border security systems.
www.intergraph.co.uk
Lowe Electronics Ltd
Contact: Andrew McLachlan (stand 451)
Lowe Electronics will be exhibiting their range of audio accessories for use with all current Airwave terminals. In addition to the standard range of earpieces, there will be a wide variety of audio solutions for specialist users such as firearms officers, public order, covert surveillance and CBRN first responders. Lowe are also able to offer custom engineered solutions for environments where there is a high background noise.
www.lowe.co.uk
Magdalene Ltd
Contact: David Harris (stand 330)
Magdalene are a service provider to the emergency services sector specialising in technologies including new Airwave terminals and applications, multi frequency indoor coverage systems, innovative access solutions and mobile data.
In addition to promoting Magdalene’s extensive services and solutions capabilities, a number of Magdalene’s key vendors will be represented, showcasing TETRA terminals from EADS, Data Solutions from Portalify, Ethernet access equipment from RAD, and Indoor Coverage DAS from Zinwave.
www.magdalene.co.uk
Serco
Contact: Paula Hughes (stand B25)
Serco will be exhibiting its Altaris command and control system. New this year is the Altaris Contact Management screen which provides a single, efficient point of entry for all calls into a control room environment. The company will also be demonstrating its capability as an installer of covert equipment in emergency services vehicles.
www.serco.com/homeaffairs
