Welcome
APRIL 2019
Round pegs,
square holes
Critical Communications Today editor Sam Fenwick
discusses the issues around in-building coverage, along
with the projects leading the charge on mission-critical
broadband roll-out in the US and the UK
While it doesn’t always get the coverage – pun intended – that it deserves,
in-building connectivity (see page 14) is a bit of a thorny topic,
particularly in the US, where there is some confusion over how inbuilding
coverage for FirstNet will be achieved. Given the number of stakeholders
involved (including building owners who need to understand the financial
implications as a matter of some urgency), there is clearly a need to get the ball
rolling on this (and find some clarity) as quickly as possible.
Philip Mason’s interview with FirstNet’s Edward Parkinson on page 18 is well
worth a read, as it takes a wide-ranging and future-focused look at its use by public
safety agencies. Our coverage of the issues facing the North American critical
communications market continues with my write-up of this year’s roundtable on the
sidelines of IWCE (see page 20). One of the many interesting points that was raised
during the discussion was that in the
US market (and others), public safety’s
In the US market
communications procedures have
there will be a
evolved in a symbiotic way with LMR
tendency to try to push
technology and that there will therefore
‘round’ mission-critical
be a tendency to try to push ‘round’
mission-critical broadband services
broadband services into
into the ‘square’ hole left by LMR once
the ‘square’ hole left
ageing systems eventually reach end of
by LMR
life. This comment makes me wonder –
if such procedures were torn up and rewritten from scratch with the technology that
we have now in mind, how would they differ? Of course, the need to communicate
with neighbouring agencies is a barrier to such revolution, as is the need to preserve
continuity of life-critical services. The observation that the first agency to abandon
LMR would be in an unenviable position, while also being the subject of intense
interest, reminded me of the situation occurring in the UK with the Emergency
Services Network (ESN).
However, at this year’s BAPCO Show (see our review of it and Critical
Communications Europe on page 26), Bryan Clark, the programme’s director,
exuded a sense of cautious optimism, which is perhaps understandable given the
incremental approach to delivery that the programme is now pursuing and the way
that it is now working to a “clear plan”.
Sam Fenwick, editor
MISSION STATEMENT
Critical Communications Today
provides the global missioncritical
community with insight
into the latest technology
and best practice required
to ensure that its members
always have access to the
instant, one-to-many wireless
communications that can make
all the difference in moments
of crisis.
We are dedicated to providing
our readers with the knowledge
they need when determining
their critical communications
strategies and procurements,
though delivering up-to-theminute
accurate information on
industry trends, developments,
and deployments, as well as
the latest new products and
services. Our journalists are
committed to easing out the
little details from your peers
that will allow you to draw
on the industry’s collective
experience of deploying and
implementing new projects
and systems.
We work to stimulate and
focus debates on the topics
that matter most and provide
our readers with a means to
raise their concerns and speak
frankly about their work and
the lessons they’ve learned
while delivering the devices and
networks that the world’s blue
light organisations depend on.
4 www.criticalcomms.com April 2019
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