Welcome
SEPTEMBER 2019
Words, but not
speech
Critical Communications Today editor Sam Fenwick discusses
the importance of embracing critical communication networks’
data capabilities, along with the value in hearing from vendors with
different perspectives
No-one speaks like they write. Writing is a recent trick that our brains have
had less evolutionary time to master and so it is a more considered and
exacting affair than the raging torrent of words that spill from our lips.
Pronunciation’s slippery nature often requires the use of such kludges as phonetic
alphabets to allow the accurate (but painstaking) transmission of people’s names and
addresses. Even the clearest speaker umms and errs, while even the keenest listener
may fail to catch every single word. The waters are further muddied by the way that
the ability to take good hand-written notes is atrophying as many of us spend a good
chunk of our days wedded to the QWERTY keyboard. Even if we weren’t, the need
to have every bit of pertinent data translated into digital form means that the use of
paper leads to tedious and inefficient double data entry.
Given all of the above, it’s no great surprise that huge improvements in the time it
takes to resolve common questions can be achieved by the use of apps that allow users
to query databases and fill out forms on
It’s possible to
the move. At the same time, it’s possible
achieve significant
to achieve significant improvements
in situational awareness using the
improvements in
sensors and connectivity (eg, Bluetooth)
situational awareness
features on modern two-way radios and
using the sensors and
smartphones. Yet it seems that many
features on modern
organisations are a long way from fully
two-way radios
embracing such working practices. For
more on this and some great tips on how to overcome resistance to change,
see my piece on the subject on page 18, and also my write-up of our recent visit to
Sepura’s headquarters on page 26.
If this issue has another theme, it’s the many different perspectives that different
vendors bring to our market. On page 16, Sonim’s Bob Escalle discusses its approach
as a rugged smartphone vendor and how it is worth considering which teams in your
organisation really need two-way radios, come the next refresh cycle. Etelm’s CEO,
Nicolas Hauswald, says on page 24 that small and medium-sized enterprises will be
able to compete with the large LTE vendors by providing critical communications
users with equipment that is tailored specifically to their requirements. Finally, if you’d
like to know how AI and 5G could benefit our sector, then check out our Q&A with
Motorola Solutions’ Mahesh Saptharishi and Paul Steinberg on page 21.
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 September 2019
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