Simultaneous access for multiple networks

Radio IP Software has demonstrated what it claims is a strategic advance in current mobile VPN (virtual private network) technology.

Revealed in a conference that looked at 'Integrating TETRA with other communication technologies to deliver mission-critical data', the company explained how to optimise a TETRA network in the context of the company's forthcoming Concurrent VPN technology, a next-generation mobile VPN solution.

Mobile VPN is evolving to account for the considerable increase in the types and amount of critical data mobile workers use — accessing video, images and biometrics at the same time — and it fuelling the demand for higher speed and flexibility.

"Today, mobile workforces can roam from one network to another, but cannot access both at the same time. With Concurrent VPN, users will be able to take advantage of multiple networks simultaneously, saving time and money," says Patrick Tabourin, director of marketing and product management at the company.

The technology developed allows users to not only seamlessly roam from one network to the other, but also use several wireless networks to achieve a high level of performance, reliability and trusted access.

With the company's concurrent VPN, applications can be matched to technologies. For example, data applications like computer-aided dispatch (CAD) are always sent over the most reliable wireless network available.

Applications with less severe security and resilience requirements can use any other wireless network such as public mobile or broadband.

For instance, high-quality video streaming requires high bandwidth and should be able to concurrently transfer data over 3G or Wi-Fi networks without impacting applications that are transmitting over mission-critical PMR systems such as TETRA or P25.

Mobile workers who depend on data, such as police officers or other emergency workers, will continue to use a wide variety of wireless data networks, including PMR (IP and non-IP), public mobile, broadband and satellite.

Further, the technology will maintain roaming and routing capabilties to switch automatically to a secondary network when the primary network is not available.