Motorola Solutions, Ericsson, Telstra and Qualcomm Technologies have combined to achieve success with the first LTE broadcast-enabled push-to-talk (PTT) call on Telstra’s LTE network.
The call, touted as a world first, used technology based on the 3GPP release 13 standard known as MC-PTT (Mission Critical Push-To-Talk over LTE), which Motorola says demonstrates another key service Telstra can deliver on its LTE Broadcast enabled LTE Advanced Network for Emergency Services (LANES Solution).
The success of the project was announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
Motorola says the achievement is a major step towards enabling public safety personnel to securely use their smartphones on the job in much the same way that they’ve used two-way radios.
{loadposition peter}While the need for these radios will always exist, it’s important that public safety personnel can use smartphones and other smart devices on the job, Motorola says.
Telstra’s LTE Broadcast capability allows PTT group calls to be delivered simultaneously to all members of a group call with high assurance, low latency and separated from regular mobile.
The technology is viewed as complementary to existing, highly secure and available mission critical LMR services and can cost-effectively extend assured PTT service to a greater number of users via mobile devices.
Bruce Brda, Executive Vice President Products and Services with Motorola Solutions says the technology will allow PSAs (Public Safety Agencies) and enterprises to do two things - extend PTT capabilities to more users via both hardened devices and regular smartphones; and provide complementary coverage and capacity to LMR networks.
Brda says the successful LTE Broadcast enabled PTT call was made possible through “Motorola Solutions’ depth of experience in mission-critical communications for public safety, Ericsson’s flexible and efficient network infrastructure, Qualcomm Technologies’ LTE Broadcast enabled Snapdragon platform and Telstra’s vast network resources and expertise in defining and deploying next generation communications standards and capabilities”.
“Customers all over the world rely on Motorola Solutions to deliver mission critical communication solutions and we look forward to advancing both the standards and technologies needed to deliver this new service.
“While mission critical LMR systems will continue to provide the critical means of frontline communication for many years to come, this new 3GPP-based technology provides an excellent way of extending the reach of LMR networks to many more technology users, regardless of whether they communicate with a smartphone, hardened device or a desktop computer.”
Mike Wright, Telstra Group Managing Director, Networks says the telco has been providing PTT services to PSAs and business for many years and, as customers’ needs change, the company is working to ensure they have “prioritised access and preferential treatment for voice and data services to help them keep the community safe”.
“With this world first LTE Broadcast enabled PTT call, we have shown that our LANES network can provide reliable prioritised communications to both PSAs and business customers with critical communications needs. PTT is part of Telstra's LANES roadmap for our Public Safety customers and complements the data and VoLTE services already available using this world-leading technology.”