LTE communications to be available on Harris multiband P25 portable by the end of the year

Johnson said she believes other vendors have not offered LTE communications capability in their LMR devices primarily because they have different philosophies than Harris about the functionality.

“I think it’s a matter of perspective of what you think your end user wants,” Johnson said. “You still have to have some kind of subscription for the device, be it on the carrier commercial network or even a FirstNet network. If you’re just doing over-the-air programming or updates, you probably have a different package or plan [with the LTE service provider]—that’s what I’m guessing.

“We went beyond that and said, ‘What if they wanted to do more? What if they wanted to actually have some communications and operations?’ Obviously, it wouldn’t be the same kind of plan that is doing some basic, small and bursty updates, because it’s actual functional usage. It’s a matter of whether they can now put away their smartphone device or use it as a tethered device to this radio and have communications that way.”

Paul May, senior product manager for Harris, echoed this sentiment.

“The broadband capabilities that have been incorporated into our XL-200P radio will change the nature of group communications and PTT,” May said in a prepared statement. “Harris’ goal in producing this LTE-capable radio is to go beyond the limitations of voice service and incorporate the kind of situational awareness and advanced communications capabilities that exist in our BeOn app today.”