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Research and Markets: Latest Report Addresses a Phased Approach to the Development of P25 Psc (Public Safety Communications) Radio, Addressing Issues That Are Important to Our Homeland Security

Posted on: Thursday, 7 February 2008, 12:00 CST

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c82112) has announced the addition of 'Project 25 Radio-Phased Development - Assessment of Technologies and Markets for First Responders Radio' to their offering.

Requirements for public safety and homeland security mobile communications systems are rapidly evolving as a direct result of recent world events. Many government organizations are contemplating significant capital investment in upgraded communications systems while hoping, if possible, to leverage systems already in use. However, law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local level have, over time, employed a range of independent and sometimes proprietary systems. These systems' differences have often times precluded fast and easy sharing of information between departments or even limited basic interdepartmental communications.

This report addresses issues that are important to our homeland security. It provides marketing and technology analysis of public safety radio, a necessary component of the homeland security infrastructure. The report addresses a phased approach to the development of P25 PSC (Public Safety Communications) radio; this approach allows to grateful migration from existing PSC networks based mostly on FM analog technology, to modern all-digital technology.

Recent events in the U.S. and all around the world showed that the existing public safety radio characteristics do not satisfy new requirements. In particular those events demonstrated that our first responders are not able to communicate with each other in a case of crisis. The decentralized structure of the public safety agencies and their desire to control means of communication inside of one agency without any planning to communicate with other agencies created a dangerous situation. This situation is characterized by:

- Absence of coordination between government entities to equip first responders with compatible radios and to create homogeneous networks

- Absence of adequate redundancy to support first responders communications

- Absence of continuity of operation planning

- Difficulties to fund new PSC networks.

This situation required immediate reaction, and governments of the civilized world were pressured to allocate significant funds to create the infrastructure for first responders communications.

As public safety agencies evaluate their two-way radio needs for the future, many are reaching some similar conclusions:

- Radio spectrum is becoming more congested

- The demand for data transmission is more pronounced

- Systems need increased functionality

- Secure communication is a growing necessity

- Incompatible systems prevent communications between different agencies

- Improved voice quality is essential over more of the coverage area.

Government efforts resulted in gradual shifting from diversified technologies used in public safety radio to two standard technologies, P25 and TETRA. The first one was developed and deployed in the U.S. and there are many countries around the world that are deploying it as well; and the second one was developed in Europe, and spread to the rest of the globe. As it often happened (good analogy is SONET and SDH technologies), P25 and TETRA, at the present time, are incompatible, but efforts are in a way, which may result in compatibility between these systems.

This report analyzes phased development of P25 technique, its market and technological specifics. Particular, it provides details of:

-Phase I: Vendors of P25-compliant equipment are shipping radios at the present time

-Phase II: As the result of this development, P25 and Tetra radios may become compatible (development can take several years)

-Phase III (Project MESA): Further compatibility and performance improvements on a country or even global level.

The report provides results that are useful for first responders' organizations, technical department of security agencies and vendors of public safety radio.

Research Methodology

Considerable research was done using the Internet. Information from various Web sites was studied and analyzed; evaluation of publicly available marketing and technical publications was conducted. Telephone conversations and interviews were held with industry analysts, technical experts and executives. In addition to these interviews and primary research, secondary sources were used to develop a more complete mosaic of the market landscape, including industry and trade publications, conferences and seminars.

The overriding objective throughout the work has been to provide valid and relevant information. This has led to a continual review and update of the information content.

Target Audience

This report is important for the government agencies involved in the first response to critical situations. It is necessary for technical departments of such agencies to have a document, which in simple language explains radio technology and architectures of networks supporting public safety radios. They also need to have a picture of the market with the major players and their portfolios to select the right equipment.

For vendors, this report provides valuable information on competition. It also supports these vendors with the market assessment.

Content Outline:

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Current Situation

1.2 New Era

1.3 Initial Actions

1.3.1 Road to Interoperability

1.3.2 New Technology

1.4 Scope and Goals

1.5 Research Methodology

1.6 Target Audience

2.0 Trunked Radio -- The Way to Go

2.1 General

2.2 Concept

2.3 Details

2.3.1 Talk Groups

2.3.1.1 Encryption

2.4 Spectrum Efficiency

2.5 System Operation: Dispatch/Land Mobile Radio

2.6 System Administration

2.7 Directions

3.0 Technology: New Directions for Public Safety Communications

3.1 Requirements to Public Safety Radio

3.2 Standardization Process and Technologies

3.2.1 General: P25 Standard

3.2.2 Beginning

3.2.3 Project 25/TIA 102: Scope

3.2.3.1 Efforts

3.2.3.2 Phased Approach

3.2.3.2.1 Phases

3.2.3.2.2 Phase I

3.2.3.2.3 Phase II

3.2.3.2.4 Phase III

4.0 Current P25 Development-Phase I

4.1 General Mission and Objectives

4.1.2 Compliance

4.1.3 Benefits and Issues

4.2 Technical Highlights

4.2.1 Common Air Interface

4.2.2 Fixed Station Interface

4.2.3 Console Sub-system Interface

4.2.4 RF Sub-system

4.2.5 Inter-system Interface (ISSI)

4.2.6 Telephone Interconnect Interface

4.2.7 Network Management Interface

4.2.8 Host and Network Data Interfaces

4.2.9 Summary: Interfaces

4.3 Security

4.4 Coding

4.5 Frequency Bands

4.6 P25 Voice Messaging

4.7 System

4.8 Spectrum: Problems

4.8.1 700 MHz Band

4.9 Major Improvements

4.10 Services

4.11 Network Scenario

4.12 Transition

5.0 Phase II

5.1 Transition

5.2 Scope

5.3 Time

6.0 Phase III

6.1 General

6.2 Organization

6.3 Background

6.4 Project MESA Formulators

6.5 Networking

6.6 MESA Statement of Requirements (SoR)

6.6.1 General

6.6.2 Vision: Ad-hoc and Cell

6.6.2.1 Features

6.6.2.2 Technological Needs

6.6.2.3 General Technology-Requirements

6.6.2.4 Specific and Functional Requirements

6.7 Goals

6.8 Applications

6.9 Crossroads

6.9.1 Vendors Position

6.10 Technology Details: System of Systems

6.10.1 Framework description

6.10.1.1 Overview

6.11 Architecture

6.12 Security

6.13 Projects P25 and MESA

7.0 P25 and TETRA

8.0 Roadblocks

8.1 Funding and Spectrum Issues

8.2 Control

8.3 Challenges

9.0 Market Analysis

9.1 General

9.2 Geography

9.3 Market Drivers

9.4 Market Forecast

9.4.1 Developments

9.4.2 Model Assumptions

9.4.3 Market Estimate

10.0 Characteristics

10.1 Technical

10.2 Economics

11.0 Projects and Trials

11.1 Alaska Project

11.2 Nationwide Network

11.3 National Capital Region Land Mobile Radio System

12.0 Vendors

13.0 Conclusions

Glossary

APPENDIX: P25 Documents

References

Attachment: P25 Service Availability Matrix

Attachment: Standards

Attachment: Countries with P25-Compliant Radio

List of Figures

Figure 1: Trunked Radio Concept Illustration

Figure 2: APCO Project 25 Interface Committee P25

Figure 3: Generic-P25 System Structure

Figure 4: P25 Radio System Model Illustration

Figure 5: Revised Frequency Plan

Figure 6: Revised Spectrum (Upper 700 MHz sub-band)

Figure 7: 700 MHz Auction

Figure 8: P25 Network Architecture

Figure 9: Partners

Figure 10: MESA Networking

Figure 11: PSR Evolution

Figure 12: P25 Phased Approach

Figure 13: Public Safety Radio Market ($B)

Figure 14: PSR Handheld & Mobile Market Estimate ($B)

Figure 15: P25 Radio Major Applications

List of Tables

Table 1: Interoperability Solutions

Table 2: P25 Advantages and Issues

Table 3: PSR Bands

Table 4: P25 Services

Table 5 Mesa Networks Levels

Table 6: TETRA vs. P25 Markets

Companies Mentioned:

- Daniels

- Datron

- Digital Voice System

- EDAS Security Systems

- EF Johnson

- Etherstack

- Kenwood

- M/A-Com (TycoElectronic)

- Midland

- Motorola

- Nexus Wireless

- Raytheon JPS

- Relm

- SmartLink Radio Networks

- Tait Electronics

- Technisonic

- Thales

- Westel

- Wireless Pacific

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c82112

Source: Business Wire

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