Combining comms is the best option

The next major ARCIA networking event will be in Brisbane on Thursday, 26 July at Rydges Hotel, Southbank. This is your chance to support the industry and network with your colleagues. Special guests will be presenting on the importance of LMR communications during the Commonwealth Games held on the Gold Coast earlier this year. Head to the ARCIA website for all the details, and let’s make this another great ARCIA Queensland night.

Over the first few months of 2018 I have been fortunate to be able to attend conferences in Australia and overseas. I have attended Comms Connects in Perth, Auckland and Sydney, IWCE in Florida and finally Critical Comms in Berlin. As well as watching almost every movie on Qantas in-flight entertainment, it has been very pleasing to see innovation across multiple markets. There is so much happening in standards, hardware and software. This is not just the domain of LTE markets; I believe we are witnessing the realisation that there is a long way to go before LTE can be used to replace the entire LMR ecosystem.

The growing awareness that LMR technologies will have relevance for critical communications for a long time to come is encouraging companies to invest in hybrid solutions so that end users can take advantage of existing and new technologies.

Our industry is so broad and over the last 100 years has been adapted in so many ways to suit different market segments. You simply can’t replace all these diverse requirements with consumer devices. Of course, LTE offers incredible opportunities for many user groups and new ways of delivering services. However, it is the combination of the best available options that will have the potential to drive new market opportunities.

As we move into the next couple of months, several of our members will be involved in school careers events, both in Victoria and New South Wales. Our members report that this is very satisfying and we are keen to promote work experience as an option to students to let them learn about the wireless world. If you would be prepared to host an occasional student for some work experience please let us know, as we see this as a way of bringing new blood into our industry.

The next major item of work for ARCIA is to engage with the ACMA on the new Radiocommunications Act. How the new Act will be implemented and the effect it will have on markets is very important to our members and the industry in general. The ACMA is aware that industry needs time to adapt to new legislation and it is pleasing to report that ARCIA is engaging with regulators.

We anticipate there will be a heavy workload in the second half of 2018 as we review all this detail. We encourage all members and supporters to engage in the debate, and if you have any concerns or questions, please raise them with the ARCIA executive committee.

Finally, I would like to thank all of the ARCIA committee members all over Australia who give up their time for the benefit of the industry. The commitment shown by these people is outstanding and is the key reason that ARCIA continues to operate effectively.

Hamish Duff, President

Australian Radio Communications Industry Association

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