Ensuring 'public safety' makes the grade

For public safety mobile broadband to be a success, all stakeholders must agree on the key goals and definitions.

After 9/11, the United States recognised that the communications systems used by emergency agencies and services responding to the event were not sufficiently interoperable. One of the key steps to tackle the issue has been the launch of the First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet.

FirstNet has established the foundation for an interoperable public safety mobile broadband (PSMB) capability. It will enable public safety agencies to exchange information with each other — information which may mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.

Yet during a US Senate hearing in July, an executive from AT&T, the commercial carrier operationally responsible for the new PSMB network, questioned whether or not ‘public safety grade’ had been clearly defined. This was despite 16 public safety-related associations jointly publishing a 115-page definition of what constitutes public safety-grade systems.

There are some clear lessons that can be taken from this by Australia’s public safety agencies (PSAs) as they consider which delivery models might be suitable to support a future mission critical-grade PSMB capability for Australia.

The situation in the US reinforces the need for Australia to develop requirements that clearly differentiate the PSMB service from commercial-grade mobile data services. Key stakeholders and industry require this to be clearly defined as a key part of the strategic decision-making process.

What’s at stake

At present, PSAs such as ambulance, law enforcement and firefighting rely on conventional radio communications to support their operations. Yet mobile data — considered a necessity by many people as they go about their day — is likely to become a critical tool in enhancing a PSA’s ability to respond in an emergency situation. Having complete and accurate information — whether it is a photo, video, medical records, a situation report or other data — may make all the difference in a life or death situation.

Currently, there is not a mobile broadband data network maintained at the required level of availability and reliability as the land mobile radio networks that PSAs have traditionally relied on.

Most Australians would assume the existence of a nationwide sharing of public safety-related digital data during an incident which required the interaction of agencies and jurisdictions. Those responding to an emergency must have priority access for their data, information and multimedia telecommunications. They also need to be assured that those communications are secure and available anywhere, anytime.

First responders to security incidents, cyclones, floods, bushfires and other emergencies should have their communications needs prioritised, even over those of concerned relatives of those who may be involved in the incident. The importance of dedicated spectrum to meet these needs has also been widely recognised globally, with some countries already well advanced on developing the capability.

If a national allocation of spectrum is dedicated for PSMB in Australia, a massive step forward will have been taken towards making the vision of a seamless exchange of voice, data and video by public safety agencies become a reality. Getting all the stakeholders to agree to the high-level requirements is the present challenge, but is an important first step on a journey well worth making.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/tashatuvango

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