Nov 1, 2007 12:00 PM, By James Careless

Once the excitement dies down over the planned nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety that will deliver data, video and — in time — even voice to first responders, an important question will emerge: Is the next-generation, IP-based network a threat to traditional land mobile radio vendors and dealers that have relied heavily on business from the public-safety sector? Or is it an opportunity?

It's a question already being mulled by vendors, dealers and analysts.

“With the release of analog TV spectrum in 2009, when the broadcasters complete their migration to digital television, there is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to create a national wireless broadband network for first responders,” said John Facella, director of public-safety markets for M/A-COM. “Since wireless broadband translates into data rates of 1 Mb/s or more, we're talking about a cellular-style network hardened for public safety.”

That's not all. Public-safety users would be guaranteed priority on the network, which would be built with a level of redundancy and robustness not found in today's wireless broadband networks. Features would include backup power and transmission paths to ensure that urgent communications get to their intended destination the first time, every time.

As for the wireless devices that will access the public-safety broadband network, they will be similar to the BlackBerry devices currently being used on commercial wireless networks, according to Facella. “They could be PDA-type devices carried by officers, or PCI cards fitted into patrol car laptops.”

It is so early in the game that the FCC still hasn't officially named the public-safety licensee that will work with the winner of the D Block auction to build this network. But already, one thing seems crystal clear: A new world has emerged that traditional LMR vendors and dealers might find very foreign.

For instance, it's possible that equipment and infrastructure procurement for the network will be done via the public-safety licensee — at least on some level — with the help of its adviser, which is in stark contrast to the local procurement — often through dealers — that has been the traditional method of network deployment.

Even if procurement is done on a regional level in some instances because factors such as topography, geography and population density vary so greatly from place to place, the agencies within those regions could band together to form regional buying groups intent on achieving volume discounts.

In addition, wireless broadband devices have not been the province of the LMR sector to date, which means that vendors and dealers both have a lot of catching up to do.

Add it all up, and traditional LMR vendors and dealers likely will find themselves in a strange new world once the buildout of the nationwide wireless broadband network for first responders begins. Just how strange — or harrowing — depends on whom you talk to.

Andrew Seybold, founder and senior partner of Andrew Seybold Inc., a wireless consulting firm in Santa Barbara, Calif., said he's not even convinced that the network will ever be built.

“There are so many unknowns in this scenario,” Seybold said. “We don't know yet if there will even be any bidders for the commercial 700 MHz [spectrum] being offered. And even if it does get sold, it will take two to three years for any carrier to build out a 700 MHz network.”

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