NYC transit agency completes TETRA pilot

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) recently completed a two-site TETRA pilot that utilized equipment provided by PowerTrunk. The gear included a telecom switch, base stations, mobile units for buses and support vehicles, portable radios, a two-position dispatch console, and a telephone network gateway that was used to test cell and PABX/PSTN handovers. The agency is planning to replace its bus analog radio system, which serves more than 5,900 vehicles.

The NYCT trial is the latest step in PowerTrunk's aggressive push into the North America market. Last year the company — which is headquartered in Spain — completed a similar trail with N.J. Transit and sold 25 base stations and more than 800 terminals to BC Hydro, British Colombia's electric power utility. It received approval from the FCC and Industry Canada to sell TETRA gear in North America in 2010.

PowerTrunk's TETRA radios already are used by transportation systems in Mexico City; Barcelona, Spain; Bogota, Columbia; and Rio de Janeiro.

"TETRA is the dominant, de facto standard for public safety, transit and utilities in the rest of the world," said Jose Martin, PowerTrunk's EVP/COO. "We are proud that MTA New York City Transit hosted our TETRA pilot. It is one more proof to North American users that TETRA has arrived."

However, a NYCT spokesman stressed in an e-mail exchange that the trial was just that — a trial, and not an agreement to purchase.

"We did do this pilot," Spokesman Charles Seaton wrote. "But the bus radio replacement project has not yet been awarded. In fact, it is not scheduled to be awarded until 2013."

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Related stories:

• Powertrunk reiterates that its FCC-approved TETRA equipment can be used in all bands under Part 90 rules
• Commentary: Plenty of obstacles exist to block TETRA in the U.S.
• TETRA increases North American deployment