Industry collaborates on broadband with TCCA working group

A new critical communications Broadband Industry Group has been formed, with representatives from Nokia and Ericsson elected to lead the organisation.

The TCCA working group has been formed to encourage broadband vendor cooperation during the development of common global critical communications solutions.

Philippe Agard, Nokia’s global public safety and defence segment leader, will chair the group, supported by Jason Johur, Ericsson’s market development director, mission-critical communications, as vice-chair.

“Building on the accomplishments of the TCCA and its critical communications broadband group, and without any loss of momentum, the Broadband Industry Group will focus its attention on ensuring 3GPP-compliant products and services meet the evolving needs of all critical communication users,” said Johur.

Organisations across key vertical markets such as public safety, transportation, utilities and mining have been expressing the need for an evolution from narrowband PMR towards broadband. As the first networks are rolled out, the industry group will help open up a broader worldwide ecosystem.

It will drive market adoption of standardised critical communications LTE and subsequent 5G technologies for the benefit of critical communications users and organisations, and promote an evolutionary approach towards future solutions. This work will build on the achievements of TCCA, which includes driving and supporting open standards and interoperability, and ongoing research into professional users’ requirements to protect customer investments for the long term.

“With the formation of the BIG, TCCA has provided industry a home to advance critical service based on broadband, including migration to 3GPP LTE and 5G standard technologies,” said Tony Gray, TCCA chief executive.

“In parallel, we will continue to recognise the importance of narrowband PMR and model our broadband activities on the success of those technologies in supporting professional users worldwide. This success will be further strengthened by the evolution of interworking between critical narrowband and broadband technologies.”

The industry group will work closely with TCCA’s Critical Communications Broadband Group (CCBG).

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Robert Churchill

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