The evolution from critical LMR to broadband — a Comms Connect workshop preview

As part of the pre-conference agenda for Comms Connect Melbourne this month, the Australian Critical Communications Forum (ACCF) is hosting a workshop with the Australian Control Room Network Association (ACRNA) addressing ‘Latest initiatives and innovations in critical LMR, Broadband and Control Centres’. To be held on 18 October at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), the workshop and keynote speakers will provide an up-to-date overview of and leadership on enhancing and expanding mission- and business-critical LMR and broadband (ETSI and 3GPP LTE 4G, 5G standards) and capabilities serving the industry and society.

Agencies from Australia, New Zealand and the US and vendors from around the world present their programs and product solutions from existing narrowband solutions to a future broadband world fit for the 2020s, the 2030s and beyond as rapidly changing technologies and user requirements can present challenges when it comes to deploying integrated solutions and the evolution from critical narrowband to broadband.

The workshop will address the following:

• LMR/broadband evolution and convergence, multiple networks, LMR/LTE/satellite devices and applications from manufacturers such as Simoco, Sepura, DAMM and Tait, and a private LTE 4G case study by Aqura.
• Standards and operational requirements will be presented by the Australian Control Room Network Association with Zetron and Melbourne University Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety.
   

ACCF believes there is an ever-increasing importance to share knowledge between organisations, sectors, verticals and nations, to keep advancing critical communications deployments, broadband network challenges and global initiatives. The workshop addresses case studies of global initiatives and challenges in the integration of critical LMR and broadband, including comparisons of the different PSMB deployment options in a roaming versus a spectrum-sharing (MOCN) scenario.

Case studies include presentations from Neil Richardson, Technical Strategy Manager, New Zealand Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC) Lead Agency; Carsten Clemens, Associated Director Engineering PSMB, NSW Telco Authority; Richard Reed, Dep Chief Network Technology & Operations, FirstNet USA; and Kevin Graham, CEO of TCCA.

For more information on the workshop and to register, visit https://melbourne.comms-connect.com.au/workshops/. To register for the main conference and exhibition (19–20 October), visit https://melbourne.comms-connect.com.au/.

Image credit: iStock.com/DIPA