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Announcements galore from the TETRA community
Last month saw the global TETRA community converge in Madrid for the TETRA World Congress, the BAPCO Journal reports...
Although at the time of writing, the official visitor numbers were yet to be released, the organisers were claiming it to be the most successful TETRA World Congress to date, and certainly, walking around the halls and attending the conference, the event appeared to be exceptionally busy. Commenting on the attendance, Phil Kidner, TETRA Association CEO said, “We are delighted by the attendance, not only because we had over 2000 pre-registered visitors, but also because of the countries represented, cemeting TETRA as a truly global standard.”
And global TETRA has certainly become, with figures released by the TETRA Association during the event, highlighting that Europe is taking second place as the technology is now present in 94 countries – 56 of which are outside Europe.The Asia Pacific and Middle East regions show the fastest growth, with contract numbers increasing by 57 per cent and 43 per cent respectively since September 2006. With the spread of the technology comes the diversity, and while public safety remains the largest market, growth is most marked in the Commerce & Industry and Oil & Gas sectors, both of which have increased by almost 50 per cent.
In a press statement, Phil Godfrey, chairman of the TETRA Association, was reported to state, “TETRA’s consolidated success in Europe has provided a firm foundation for the technology to make its mark around the world. With knowledge shared and expertise exchanged, the market is generatingits own momentum. From just over 200 contracts in 2002, today we are reporting over 1400.
“Whilst we now expect to see TETRA technology safely in charge of national public safety, the private networks are proving increasingly popular as industry and utilities realise the benefits of secure, interoperable and proven systems.”
The event also gave rise to a plethora of announcements and product launches:
Artevea: launched the latest addition to its T-MATRIX family of products with T-MATRIX ALVIS (Automatic Location Visual Indication System). T-MATRIX ALVIS provides location based tracking services for individual subscribers and fleets with additional capabilities for geo fencing, reporting, playback and alarm monitoring.
EADS Secure Networks transmitted high-speed data over its TETRA radio communication network – the first company in the world to do so. EADS has developed its high speed data capability based on the TETRA enhanced data service (TEDS) standard for mission critical Professional Mobile Radio networks. EADS’ solution integrates high-speed data capability seamlessly into the TETRA radio communication networks by EADS and can be introduced by a software upgrade.
The product concept proves that a two-way video transmission, for example, will be possible using a single TEDS carrier of 50-kHz channel bandwidth. In the beginning, EADS will support both 25-kHz and 50-kHz channel bandwidths. EADS’ TEDS radio works in existing EADS TETRA network infrastructure – no hardware has been upgraded in the TB3 base station.
Infomatrix announced the launch of [i]-BrJ a flexible multi-bearer solution, which provides seamless mobility to the professional mobile workforce. Regardless of information mobility requirements: web, intranets, corporate database applications, email or other data sources, [i]-BrJ is configurable to deliver your solutions in the most resilient, cost effective or application specific way. The seamless combining of access to multiple networks such as TETRA, GPRS, WiFi or 3G ensures the mobile workforce has constant data coverage provided at least any one network is available.
Infomatrix also announced a pre-installation deal with Motorola that will see Infomatrix [ i]-SqZ delivered in the default factory configuration on Motorola’s ground-breaking MTC100 TETRA PDA.
Phonak: Launched profilo, an interference free covert solution entirely immune to electromagnetic interference caused by power lines, car ignition systems, anti-theft devices, scanners and many other electronic devices and electrical installations.
Samdale: Showing for the first time was the Pegasus TETRA Service Monitoring system, which enables implementation of a pr-active policy towards Quality of Service through a network of real-time monitoring phrobes. The solution also detects many ‘off-air’ problems that are not reported by traditional network monitoring systems.
Sepura: Sepura radio users can now take advantage of added Bluetooth functionality. Attached to the base of any Sepura hand-held radio, the new S-link adaptor instantly equips the radio with Bluetooth. The sleek wireless adaptor adds just 26mm to the length of a hand-held radio and weighs just 27g, blending into the body of the radio without compromising use. Even once attached, radios can still be placed upright on flat surfaces.
Sepura also announced with Infomatrix the launch of a TETRA data solution that speeds up mobile data applications between standard commercial PDAs, or similar data devices, and Sepura TETRA radios.Web-based PDA applications will benefit from typical cellular-like speeds when connected to the Sepura hand-held radios, using Sepura’s newly launched S-Link Bluetooth Adaptor and the Infomatrix [i]-SqZ Data Accelerator.
Selex Communications: received the Best Stand Award for its stand visual impact, for the effectiveness of company communications displayed, for the impeccable and effective manner in which the products were displayed and last, but not least, for the professional courtesy and technical know-how of our staff.
During the event, SELEX Communications Executive Vice President of Markets, Vittorio Biscarini, and Indra’s Operations Manager, Santiago Roura, signed an agreement to commercialise TETRA solutions in the Spanish market.
TETRAsim: launched a new range of radio simulators for SEPURA radio models SRH3500, SRM3500 and SRG3500. The simulators operate as virtual radio devices and can be connected to an educational platform so that trainers can easily monitor end-user progress through a training session, providing advice and support as required. The radio simulators will enable user-organisations to utilise their radios and networks more effectively. TETRAsim’s Sepura training simulator is fully compatible with other TETRAsim simulators and tools, making the solution extremely versatile and able to accommodate almost any training brief.
And finally, but by no means least, the TETRA Association Award for Outstanding Contribution to TETRA was presented to Jo Dewaele, one of the leading specialists in the TETRA community.
Dewaele was a member of the team that outlined the future Belgian radio network for public safety and rescue services with computer aided control rooms. He currently chairs Workgroup I of ETSI Technical Committee TETRA, and is both passionate and committed in promoting TETRA as an open standard that evolves with the requirements of the end users. Apart from being one of the leading specialists in the TETRA community, he has a rare quality in his capacity to translate technical information into a language all TETRA users can understand. In a press statement, Doug Gray, chairman of the ETSI TC, said: “This Award is well-deserved recognition for Jo. Through his leadership, he has been instrumental in making user requirements become a product reality.”
