https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

Long Term Evolution (LTE)


The LMR-to-LTE transition: revolution vs. evolution

  • Written by
  • 15th May 2013
Many believe that public-safety communications will migrate from LMR systems to LTE, but no one knows when. It could happen sooner than you think.

What is in this article?

  • The LMR-to-LTE transition: revolution vs. evolution
  • The ultimate vision 

The LMR-to-LTE transition: revolution vs. evolution

The National Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) that will be built by FirstNet will establish the first common national infrastructure — based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) commercial standards — for use by all public-safety agencies. This includes both the common backbone, or backhaul, and the over-the-air portion that will allow true national interoperability using the 700 MHz spectrum reserved for public safety.

By using the latest commercial standards, public safety will benefit from larger economies of scale to reduce the cost of devices, while also taking advantage of the insatiable demand for smartphones — now and into the future. Public safety can capitalize on the innovation that is happening today in the commercial arena and translate it into technology improvements that specifically apply to police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS).  The real question becomes how to transition from the traditional reliance on land-mobile-radio (LMR) technology. Will it be an evolution or a revolution?

Today’s LMR networks provide the reliability, coverage and dedicated priority in times of emergency that are a must for any public-safety operation. Most public-safety professionals rely on these system characteristics, and the NPSBN must embed these requirements in any future system.

Traditionally, public safety has evolved very slowly, because it has moved slowly to adopt new technologies. However, a revolution—a migration away from current LMR technology as quickly as possible—might be the better choice, if it is executed as part of a strategic, cost-effective and planned effort. This effort would eliminate the reliance on what we love about current LMR systems for the incredible possibilities of LTE, with similar reliability. The largest hurdles will be establishing governance and defining the standards for FirstNet early in the process, in order to create a robust and reliable network.

Given the pace of technology advancements in the cellular industry, a well-planned revolution can save billions of dollars over time, as public safety makes end-of-life decisions on many LMR systems throughout the nation. Public safety can choose a path—with FirstNet providing strategic steps forward—that will allow the nationwide LTE network to eventually replace aging LMR systems (see Figure 1).

This idea may meet with resistance. Current public-safety equipment manufacturers hope to create two systems — and two sets of handheld devices — to generate more income. Further, many believe that voice over LTE will not be as reliable or robust as LMR voice — a debate similar to the arguments for analog versus digital radio systems.

This perception may be based simply on the comfortable reliance on what we all currently know, and the lack of trust in cellular systems that continually fail in major emergencies. The providers freely admit that they did not intend their networks to be used for public-safety emergency operations. As a result, FirstNet will have the opportunity to marry public-safety LMR reliability requirements to the vastly more robust capabilities of LTE.

The most significant challenge—and opportunity—will be governance. Today, governance has led to more interoperability issues than technology. Since 9/11, many technologies have been developed to solve interoperability problems, but the turf battles between various agencies have held back efforts to solve these issues. Each agency has preferred vendors and technologies, based on personal experience, and generally is not willing to step out of its comfort zone.

Thus, the world of stovepipe solutions has been the norm rather than the exception. Today’s grant guidelines promote regional approaches, devoid of stovepipe solutions. But in many of these regions, individual agencies put up every imaginable hurdle to avoid giving up their turf. FirstNet will feel the pressure from industry directly — and through its customers — to allow the same proprietary structure that has prevented interoperability in LMR to exist in the LTE space. However, governance issues could be addressed through the states or other larger jurisdictions, and technology challenges could be overcome by analysis of the current commercial market experience.

1 | 2 |
The ultimate vision 
Tags: Public Safety Raytheon Regulation Long Term Evolution (LTE) NTIA/FirstNet Policy Public Safety System Design Article

16 comments

  1. Avatar Anonymous 16th May 2013 @ 8:38 pm
    Reply

    Yep lets do away with LMR as
    Yep lets do away with LMR as soon as we can, so that we can channel all our extra money to the companies that are so willing to HELP us. Wrong LMR needs to staty inplace and we can continue to use LTE to support us.

  2. Avatar Anonymous 27th May 2013 @ 7:10 pm
    Reply

    my thoughts exactly….reach
    my thoughts exactly….reach for more and more. then periodically “advance” technology so it can be sold over again.
    once they control public safety we are over a barrel.
    I can live without my smart phone.

  3. Avatar 35 Years Experience 28th May 2013 @ 9:44 pm
    Reply

    LTE? For Cops who can’t even
    LTE? For Cops who can’t even drive a car straight ahead? Are they kidding? Sure it MIGHT be a good idea for certain administrative and investigative units but cannot replace PTT radio plus we have Smartphones with custom LE APP’s already….Plus our radios are now FREE TO USE and can interoperate with surrounding agencies..What a bill of goods..Hey, at lesat we are not on 470 MHz channels so won’t have to hand them back in…A Cop from a big City who will be long retired when this happens helped make that deal. Amazing.

  4. Avatar Anonymous 28th May 2013 @ 9:51 pm
    Reply

    Is everyone out of there
    Is everyone out of there cotton-pickin minds? Maybe LTE is the savior of the eastern seaboard but out here west of the MIssissippi things are a lot different. In my state you can drive for hundreds of miles and never see another car but the still LMR works. LTE with its limited range will necessitate building hundreds of new sites to equate to that our the LMR. That is only one of many deficiencies. Backhaul for all those new sites is another. $7B is not even close to enough money. Try $70B and good luck.

  5. Avatar Anonymous 28th May 2013 @ 9:52 pm
    Reply

    While you only briefly
    While you only briefly menttion coverage, I believe it is one of the main factors that will not allow LMR migration especially in rural areas with difficult terrian. Many of these areas do not have any cell coverage. The term “Nationwide’ is very misleading in that nationwide coverage will most likely be based on population, not the entire land mass of the U.S. which will leave out the rural, less populated areas.

  6. Avatar Anonymous 28th May 2013 @ 10:18 pm
    Reply

    When FirstNET covers the 4
    When FirstNET covers the 4 corners area [NM, AZ, CO, UT] with in-building, handheld device coverage, THEN my agency MIGHT consider moving away from LMR.

  7. Avatar Anonymous 28th May 2013 @ 10:18 pm
    Reply

    What part of the
    What part of the Manufacturer’s desire to “…generate more income” do we not understand? That money has to be allocated to budgets to pay the service provider. Instead of owning the system and not having a monthly bill for each device, now we will have to take taxpayer dollars and allocate it to fund a monthly fee per device. Most department and management do not realize how much this will cost in the long run.

  8. Avatar Anonymous 29th May 2013 @ 3:54 am
    Reply

    Once again it is the tail
    Once again it is the tail wagging the dog. Big business and politicians telling Public Safety Users what they need and what they have will no longer suit them. Try using your smartphone to make a call with your winter gloves on … I think not.

  9. Avatar Anonymous 29th May 2013 @ 12:07 pm
    Reply

    Since when is it a good thing
    Since when is it a good thing to put all our eggs into one basket? Especially when it’s a new technology (PS voice)
    Most accreditation requirements I have read look for multiple ways to contact first responders for a reason.

  10. Avatar Anonymous 29th May 2013 @ 2:09 pm
    Reply

    LMR is not going away anytime
    LMR is not going away anytime soon. LTE is still too new and First Net is a joke.

  11. Avatar Anonymous 29th May 2013 @ 4:00 pm
    Reply

    Funny. Mr Bostic sings the
    Funny. Mr Bostic sings the praises of a technology that has yet to be developed and talks down about what is tried and true. Do you think the fact that his company (Raytheon) wants into your business has anything to do with it? Since they have no offerings in the current LMR world, this could allow them to increase their presence. It’s about the Benjamins!!!

  12. Avatar Anonymous 29th May 2013 @ 5:20 pm
    Reply

    Terrestrial LTE coverage will
    Terrestrial LTE coverage will be a huge problem in rural America, that is currently covered with LMR. The purported satellite data solution is only prospect, without even a brochure or a prototype to show in daylight.

  13. Avatar DepotRon 29th May 2013 @ 5:54 pm
    Reply

    I don’t foresee agencies
    I don’t foresee agencies going to a nationwide LTE network anytime soon due to systems costs. Out here in the west, coverage is much better served by conventional LMR systems. The high cost of sites and regulations prevent the wide spread deployment of LTE especially in mountainous terrain. Not to mention the environmental regulations one would have to satisfy. There are also site hardening costs that would be needed to meet public safety communication standards for service reliability. Getting sites and building them to public safety communication specs would prevent it given the high number of sites which would be required to service the west.

  14. Avatar almost 40 yrs experience in Mass. 30th May 2013 @ 12:19 am
    Reply

    Anonymous from yesterday has
    Anonymous from yesterday has it correct. How many times has a stand alone Police/ Fire proven itself. for reliability. Why do (even current day) Amateur (even though they know a lot) operators help out w/ their stations. Because they do not rely on anyone to be on the air. Public safety radio should continue to stand alone. And Congress should give the FCC back the 470 Mhz(Tband) to LMR. Why break something that works well. Ask the Depts involved in tracking down the Boston bombers. Their comms. worked thru the entire episode.

  15. Avatar Anonymous 4th June 2013 @ 9:09 pm
    Reply

    There doesn’t seem to be a
    There doesn’t seem to be a consensus as to whether LTE is going to include PTT or be just broadband. If it’s just broadband only, it doesn’t need hardened sites and 100% coverage – which is a much cheaper, more doable, alternative. I’m ok with the broadband only approach and, when combined with existing LMR, it fills most user needs, at a cheaper cost. The universal network, PTT & Broadband, concept is unrealistic and is just trying to line the pocket of big non-traditional LMR companies. Someone please make the final call – PTT or NOT. The future depends on it. If the decision is PTT, then we know the project is doomed out the gate and we don’t have to worry about it anymore. If the answer is no PTT, then we might start doing some long-range planning to include it.

  16. Avatar wr8y 6th June 2013 @ 2:28 pm
    Reply

    FirstNet sounds like a group
    FirstNet sounds like a group of political appointees who have little technical knowledge and even less appreciation for economic concerns. I keep thinking I detect an underlying rat here – a desire to see the deployment of BILLIONS of dollars of equipment without serious regard to technical, economic or operational realities. Even EAST of the Mississippi, there are many areas without cellular coverage. The economics and terrain don’t support good coverage, and yet, we are told that FirstNet will blanket the NATION with LTE for public safety?

    A horrible bill of goods is being sold here.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • The LMR-to-LTE transition: revolution vs. evolution
  • The LMR-to-LTE transition: revolution vs. evolution
  • The LMR-to-LTE transition: revolution vs. evolution
  • The LMR-to-LTE transition: revolution vs. evolution

Commentary


How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient

26th January 2023

3GPP moves Release 18 freeze date to March 2024

18th January 2023

Do smart cities make safer cities?

  • 1
6th January 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Public-safety coalition renews efforts to secure federal NG911 funding dlvr.it/ShwGfn

4th February 2023
UrgentComm

Newscan: Cyberattacks on DoE national labs draw lawmaker scrutiny dlvr.it/Shvpw3

3rd February 2023
UrgentComm

The shine begins to wear off 5G private wireless dlvr.it/Shth0P

3rd February 2023
UrgentComm

Phishers trick Microsoft into granting them ‘verified’ Cloud Partner status dlvr.it/Shqngn

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

Shapeshifting robot can morph from a liquid to a solid dlvr.it/Shqk9K

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

Automakers against stampede to BEV dominance dlvr.it/ShpX08

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

FCC nominee Gigi Sohn headed for third Senate hearing dlvr.it/ShpDcZ

1st February 2023
UrgentComm

Sign up to learn how to successfully manage your Motorola ASTRO® 25 System: spr.ly/60143j8fp https://t.co/XcxiUwzN27

1st February 2023

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.