Brazil a reminder that LMR-LTE convergence issues not limited to U.S.
Brazil also has developed fusion centers that serve as a clearinghouse for myriad information, which is analyzed and disseminated to first responders when deemed appropriate, Santos Guerra said.
Users of the Brazilian army’s P25 and LTE systems are able to communicate with each other regardless of the technology they are using at the time, thanks to a gateway solution provided by Motorola Solutions, Santos Guerra said. Improving interoperability with other first-response agencies in the country is the next step, he said.
“Today, there is a need to cooperate with different agencies, but the technology in terms of operations is still not perfect,” Santos Guerra said. “The expectation is that 4G LTE will facilitate a lot more cooperation and interoperability between agencies.”
Currently, the Brazilian army’s P25 and LTE systems are separate networks, but Santos Guerra said he believes that will change.
“In the long run, the systems will eventually merge,” Santos Guerra said. “[I see] it really as a long-term evolution that will probably have just one terminal and one network.”
Santos Guerra did not offer a timetable for this migration to a single communications network, which is probably wise. In the meantime, while most of the world's eyes will be focused on the athletic actions occurring at various Brazilian venues during the next few years, Brazil's efforts to integrate LMR and LTE systems will attract attention in the communications arena, as well.