The Middle East to Lead with Next-generation Mission Critical Communication Advancement

By Chuan Chuan (Winter) Leng, ICT Specialist and Senior Technical Manager, Hytera

The Middle East, a region renowned for its technological advancements, has long been an early adopter of new technologies, including mission-critical communications (MCC). In particular, they have been quick to deploy the latest 3GPP-based broadband technology, known as mission-critical services (MCX).

MCC used to be dominated by narrowband land mobile radio (LMR) solutions such as TETRA, P25, and DMR. Increasingly more users, such as the police, equipped with LMR systems have been publicizing RFI of interconnecting narrowband LMR networks with the newer 4G/5G broadband MCC systems.

A good illustration of this is the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, where the organizers implemented a hybrid network, which integrated both narrowband TETRA and broadband push-to-talk (PTT) technologies.

“Following the success of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, more Middle Eastern countries are now implementing broadband PTT technologies. For example, Abu Dhabi has set up a private 4G LTE network using 700MHz spectrum for its Smart/Safe City project, which has been recently updated to 5G to support advanced broadband MCC applications. Meanwhile, the Qatar Ministry of lnterior has completed the upgrade of its mission-critical capabilities and is rolling out a full range of MC services. Saudi Arabia is currently in the process of assigning broadband spectrum for public safety use,” said Jonson Wang, Product Marketing Manager of Hytera MEA.

The need for converged networks is increasing

Mahinsha Backer, the Asst. General Manager of Zener Marine Services, a much-acclaimed MCC solution distributor in the region, predicted that broadband MCX will dominate the future MCC market, but not as a replacement for traditional technologies. Rather, MCX will be deployed as an enhancement or unified solution ensuring redundancy in communication systems with broadband media capabilities.

Public safety agencies in the Middle East currently rely heavily on LMR systems due to their proven reliability and security. Despite the fact that more countries are beginning the transition to broadband technologies, TETRA systems will continue to coexist with LTE networks for a long time for technical and economic reasons.

Several countries in the region traditionally rely on mature TETRA and P25 networks, according to Ildefonso de la Cruz, principal analyst in the Public Safety & Critical Communications group at Omdia. In addition, Ildefonso also pointed out that new TETRA networks have been deployed to address the needs of sports as well as tourism-related contracts in Bahrain, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, including deployments in the F1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, as well as mission-critical solutions for the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Given the continuing deployment of LMR networks, the market needs to find a way to integrate these different technologies to deliver improved MCC services to its customers. This requires a unified, standards-based approach to tightly integrate LMR and LTE networks.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of 3GPP, ETSI, and TCCA, particularly in the realm of MCX and the interworking function (IWF), it is expected that the majority of countries will embrace these standard-based approaches. This will pave the way for truly unified, fully interoperable MCC services.

Hybrid-mode devices, also known as converged devices, have already proven their value in the market. These devices are purposely designed to operate on both TETRA and LTE networks, ensuring uninterrupted communications for responders and paving the way for a seamless transition to broadband. Vendors active in the Middle East, like Hytera, offer a variety of hybrid-mode devices, such as the PTC760.

Control rooms move towards next-generation intelligent operation

Control rooms are becoming more intelligent, which is enabling public safety agencies to make a paradigm shift from reactive to proactive operations. Better quality intelligence delivered in near-real or real time enables public safety agencies to make more accurate predictions about outcomes, better-informed decision-making, and a more targeted allocation of resources.

A unified communications platform with a hybrid dispatch console capable of integrating multiple technologies such as LTE, TETRA and more, will ensure seamless connectivity among agencies to support the instantaneous exchange of information and enable a properly coordinated response.

Modern responders are equipped with a range of advanced devices, including smartphones, radios, and body cameras, which enable real-time interaction with dispatchers using built-in communication and location tools. By incorporating advanced intelligence data from the control room and leveraging these new tools, responders can carry out operations more swiftly, flexibly, and accurately, thereby enhancing their overall effectiveness.

Pioneering companies in the industry have showcased their expertise in delivering intelligent-centric command, control, and coordination solutions in the global market. By leveraging their capabilities, intelligence-enabled command centers are poised to play a crucial role in the next-generation of public safety operations in the region.

Advanced video surveillance, along with real-time and historical intelligence analytics can be deployed to accurately forecast threats and rapidly implement robust preventive protection measures for effectively handling anticipated or ongoing incidents and emergencies.

Next-generation Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems enable agencies to strategically deploy resources, initiate early intervention, and implement measures that deter or minimize the impact of potential threats, thereby improving response outcomes.

Telecom operators carve out a slice of the MCC market

With the ongoing expansion of broadband services in the Middle East, LTE and 5G NR mobile networks are gaining recognition as alternative platforms for providing push-to-talk (PTT) and multimedia services.

Mobile network operators (MNO) like STC in Saudi Arabia, Vodafone and Ooredoo in Qatar, and Omantel in Oman have been playing an increasingly important role in the market by introducing broadband PTT services for public safety and industrial users in recent years.

These operators leverage their extensive network coverage to provide comprehensive broadband PTT solutions that integrate devices, services, and traffic into a single package. This approach offers several benefits, including reducing network maintenance and construction costs for their customers.

Furthermore, these operators are utilizing their network assurance and maintenance expertise to actively support the delivery of large-scale events and activities. An example of this is Vodafone’s involvement in providing broadband PTT services for the volunteers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.