Tait Talks: The 5 Critical Elements of Interoperable Communications

Tait Communications is a huge proponent of open standards. The company is one of the founding members of the Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Association and a leader in providing DMR Tier 3 standard networks for digital trunked radio systems worldwide. In addition, Tait Communications is part of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Project 25 (P25) standards process. Both standards are crucial to the digital mobile radio industry.??

Many critical communications stakeholders require broadband communications to complement their LMR networks. Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards lead the way, and Tait Communications adheres to all 3GPP standards around 4G and 5G devices; services including mission-critical push to talk, text, and video (MCX); as well as the associated mobile operator and other equipment certifications.??

These open standards and others offer many benefits to users, and Tait Communications recently conducted a poll on LinkedIn to determine which of those benefits that stakeholders in the public safety and critical communications industries think are most advantageous.?

Poll Responses?

Nine percent of respondents to the poll each selected “lower prices” or to “avoid technology obsolescence” as the biggest advantages of open standards. Open standards facilitate lower prices through additional competition in the market. When it is time to upgrade and update a communications system, standards help ensure the technology evolves with the standards process and that a communications network is not left behind with outdated technology.?

About 28% of respondents to the poll said “vendor choice” is the biggest advantage of open standards. Many public safety and critical infrastructure communications managers have felt locked into one vendor over the years. Open standards allow a customer to buy the network infrastructure from one vendor, while choosing mobile and portable radios for the network from two or more different vendors, for example. Freedom of vendor choice is a great benefit of open standards because customers select the best products for their requirements, regardless of who deployed the network infrastructure.??

The Importance of Interoperability

Notably, more than half (53%) of poll respondents said “interoperability” was the biggest advantage of open standards in the critical communications industry. Interoperability is a huge issue for communications managers around the globe. Communication during disasters is rarely easy and often crosses different agencies and companies, involving several emergency networks. During Hurricane Helene in the U.S., first responders from across the country came to Buncombe County, North Carolina, one of the hardest hit areas to help county and city officials there in the aftermath. Without open standards, interoperability in that situation and others would not happen. Interoperable communications is the key to keeping first responders safe and for the most effective and efficient response to incidents where mutual aid is required.?

One way to address interoperability challenges is by purchasing standards-based equipment. P25 equipment that has been assessed and approved under the P25 Compliance Assessment Program (CAP) is the best option to ensure P25 equipment is interoperable. A list of approved grant-eligible P25 equipment is available on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website. The DMR Association developed the DMR Interoperability (IOP) Process, a formal and consistent test mechanism allowing manufacturers to test that their products are compatible. DMR IOP certificates and summary test reports are published on the DMR Association web site. The certificates detail which features have been evaluated, whether interoperability has been achieved, and any other relevant details.?

The Interoperability Continuum

However, interoperable communications extends beyond standards-based equipment. Because of the importance of interoperability and the breakdowns in communications during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, the U.S. DHS developed the SAFECOM Interoperability Continuum to help agencies address the complexities. The continuum is designed to assist emergency response agencies and policy makers to plan and implement interoperability solutions for data and voice communications. Updates to the continuum allow it to be used for technologies beyond mission-critical voice including data interoperability and security.?

This tool identifies five critical success elements that must be addressed to achieve a sophisticated interoperability solution: governance, standard operating procedures (SOPs)/standard operating guidelines (SOGs) and field operations guides (FOGs), technology, training and exercises, and usage of interoperable communications. Jurisdictions can use the Interoperability Continuum to track progress in strengthening interoperable communications.?

Tait Communications wants to learn more about our community’s interoperability needs. We plan to post a new poll specific to interoperability in the coming weeks. In the meantime, contact Tait if we can help with your interoperability or communications requirements.?

Blog authored by: Sandi Wendelken – Strategy & Insights Manager | Tait Communications