Motorola to develop public safety broadband network for LA

The Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communication System Authority (LA-RICS) has selected Motorola Solutions to develop a wireless public safety broadband network (PSBN). Based on 4G LTE, the high-speed network will provide mission-critical data communications for over 34,000 law enforcement, fire service and health service professionals and 80 public safety agencies in the region.

LA-RICS awarded a $175 million contract to Motorola for a five-phase project to design, construct, implement and maintain the LTE network. Motorola will deliver the PSBN solution operating on Public Safety LTE Band Class 14 of the 700 MHz spectrum to provide a shared, region-wide data system throughout the 10,360 km² area.

“Proceeding with this wireless public safety broadband network for the Los Angeles region will assist LA-RICS in fulfilling its goal of providing the finest public safety grade mission-critical communications to the region’s public safety professionals,” said Patrick Mallon, executive director, LA-RICS.

The network consists of an evolved packet core (EPC) with 231 eNodeB sites operating on Band Class 14, as well as a backhaul network and redundant network operation centres (NOC). Motorola is providing 1000 VML 700 LTE vehicle modems for initial testing. LA-RICS is funding the project primarily with federal grants from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Motorola’s LTE solution supports a host of public safety applications, such as integrated command centre applications and other computer-aided dispatch (CAD) solutions, real-time video streaming, tactical collaboration, dynamic mapping and routing and in-field reporting, as well as optional push-to-talk and location services. The network will connect the region’s first responders to regional, state and federal agencies during natural disasters and other widespread emergencies, enabling them to use video, data and other broadband tools to execute their missions more efficiently and safely.

In August 2013, LA-RICS awarded a contract to Motorola to develop the Project 25 radio system, which will provide real-time interoperable communications for the Los Angeles area as well as with regional, state and federal agencies. Combined with the LTE network, LA-RICS will provide state-of-the-art wireless voice and data communications for the entire region of more than 10 million people.

“We greatly appreciate being chosen by LA-RICS to use our experience to build an advanced data network as well as an interoperable radio system to serve the entire region,” said Mark Moon, executive vice president and president, sales and product operations, Motorola Solutions.

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