Motorola harnesses broadband power for LA's first responders

Motorola Solutions played a key role in the first real-world demonstration of the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) public safety broadband network, with its LTE infrastructure, devices and software solutions used to monitor security during the 127th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on 1 January.

The demonstration at the Rose Parade showed how a host of broadband-enabled tools in the hands of first responders can enhance their abilities to protect large-scale crowds. It is estimated more than 750,000 people attended the parade along the nearly 10-kilometre route.

Motorola Solutions is the prime contractor for the LA-RICS networks, which will enable public safety agencies around the LA area to use broadband capabilities to improve the safety of its first responders and citizens with the newest technologies.

“The successful LA-RICS demonstration at the Rose Parade created an ideal platform to showcase Motorola Solutions’ best-in-class devices, software and services that improve public safety,” said Mark Schmidl, vice president of sales for Motorola Solutions.

“It has been our privilege to build the nation’s largest dedicated public safety broadband network, which will significantly enhance safety throughout the Los Angeles area.”

The demonstration included the company’s LEX L10 handheld devices, streaming video applications in real time, Wave workgroup communications software and Compasscom, which displays the location of other public safety users on a map on the devices and command post.

The company’s VML 750 broadband modems streamed video wirelessly from vehicles and from fixed cameras back to command centres and broadband devices on the public safety network.

Motorola Solutions said LA-RICS utilised both a broadband LTE network and an LMR system to enhance operations and was able to create push-to-talk capability between both networks.

LA-RICS is among the Early Builder projects under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Broadband Technology Opportunities Program that financed its construction, and is the largest dedicated broadband network that is designed to be part of the FirstNet national broadband system.

Image caption: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti at the 127th Tournament of Roses Parade. (Image courtesy of Eric Garcetti under CC BY 2.0)