Abstract
This report analyzes the status of first responders' communications technologies, and concentrates on the following subjects:
- Satellites communications for pubic safety communications
- Mesh networks and their role in public safety communications
- Ultra Wideband communications for first responders
- North America standard land-mobile radio for first responders-Project P25
- Opening of the 700 MHz Band and its effect on public safety communications.
All these topics are united by their purpose - to serve first responders in their activity, supporting reliable interoperable communications.
The report also addresses marketing profiles of the above technologies in the public safety communications segment.
1. Satellite communications. With falling pricing and uniqueness of this technology features, satellite links importance for disaster recovery is difficult to underestimate. First responders can now use services offered by several companies to sustain their interaction in various situations when terrestrial links are damaged or completely destroyed. Modern technology allows establishing such satellite links in a very short time, and it supports both voice and data traffic.
Satellite offerings to support public safety communications can be categorize as:
- Permanent installations. They are typically only used for the most important and vital government networks
- Pre-empted connections, which usually are utilized by non-public safety communications users, but become available for first responders in critical situations.
Satellite attractiveness is partially offset by:
- Pricing structure (in comparison with other means of communications)
- Specifics of establishing a communications path (the need for an antenna to "see" the satellite)
- Relative bulkiness of equipment.
2. Wireless mesh networks. These networks are self-organized and redundant by their nature - the ideal situation for first responders' communications. Each responder may become a part of the network structure; in a case of the failing link, the network itself will establish a new connection. The WMN market is growing fast and public safety communications plays a significant role in this market.
3. UWB. Ultra Wideband technology has a very important feature that makes it attractive for public safety communications - it can combine in one device a secure communicator and precise radar. Such properties allow first responders to "see" through the wall and communicate at the same time. UWB is, in our opinion, one of technologies that in the near future will establish a significant presence in the discussed communications sector.
4. Project 25 radio. Project 25 defines a set of standards for first responders' radio to establish such radio characteristics for North America and several countries outside of the U.S. The goal of this standard is to make sure that various agencies talk "the same language" and can communicate with each other during emergencies. So far, there is still a lot of non-standard equipment in hands of first responders, and this makes their efforts difficult and inefficient.
5. Opening the 700 MHz spectrum for public safety radio (as well as for commercial use) provides a sufficient basis to drive P25 (in the U.S.) and TETRA markets and serves the purpose to reach interoperability on the local, state and federal levels. It is difficult to predict how the development of this spectrum will enhance the arsenal of our first responders. For now, it seems that a very promising direction is to build pre-empted commercial networks: in such a way, pubic safety communications will gain so needed financial stability and on a needed basis will serve first responders (i.e., commercial traffic will be interrupted in cases of need by first responders' communications).
Research Methodology
Considerable research was done using the Internet. Information from various Web sites was studied and analyzed; evaluation of publicly available marketing and technical publications was conducted. Telephone conversations and interviews were held with industry analysts, technical experts and executives. In addition to these interviews and primary research, secondary sources were used to develop a more complete mosaic of the market landscape, including industry and trade publications, conferences and seminars.
The overriding objective throughout the work has been to provide valid and relevant information. This has led to a continual review and update of the information content.
Target Audience
This report is important for the government agencies involved in the first response to critical situations. It is necessary for technical departments of such agencies to have a document, which in simple language explains radio technology and architectures of networks supporting public safety radios. They also need to understand the market landscape and who are the major players and their portfolios to select the right equipment.
For vendors of the first response technology, this report provides valuable information on competition. It also supports these vendors with the market assessment.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
- 1.1 General-Mobility and Interoperability
- 1.2 Requirements to Public Safety Radio
- 1.3 Interoperability Categories
- 1.4 Classification
- 1.5 Criteria
- 1.6 States and Federal Support
- 1.7 Scope
- 1.8 Research Methodology
- 1.9 Target Audience
2.0 Satellite Communications - Help from the Sky
- 2.1 General
- 2.2 Features
- 2.3 Planning
- 2.4 Technology Specifics
- 2.4.1 Scenarios
- 2.5 Services
- 2.6 Benefits and Issues
- 2.7 Channels
- 2.8 Voice
- 2.9 Services and Providers
- 2.9.1 CapRock
- 2.9.2 Cyren Call Communications Corp
- 2.9.3 Inmarsat
- 2.9.4 Iridium and JPS
- 2.9.4.1 Iridium
- 2.9.5 PacStar and Spacenet
- 2.9.6 DataPath
- 2.9.7 New Hampshire Satellite Responder Network
- 2.9.8 IDirect Technologies
- 2.9.9 IP Access International
- 2.9.10 SES Americom
- 2.9.11 Anvil
- 2.10 Vendors
- RaySat Antenna
- Raytheon JPS
3.0 Mesh Networks
- 3.1 Definition
- 3.2 Major Features
- 3.2.1 General
- 3.2.2 Attractiveness
- 3.3 Benefits and Limitations
- 3.4 Major WMN Applications
- 3.5 Architectures
- 3.5.1 Frequency Bands
- 3.6 Routing Protocols
- 3.6.1 Lack of Standardization
- 3.6.2 Applications Variety
- 3.6.3 Protocols
- 3.7 Security Issues
- 3.7.1 General
- 3.7.2 IEEE 802.11
- 3.7.3 UWB (Ultra Wideband) Technology
- 3.7.4 ZigBee
- 3.7.5 Summary-Public Safety Security
- 3.8 Market: Mesh Networks
- 3.8.1 Market Estimate
- 3.8.1.1 Market Leaders
- 3.8.1.2 Forecast
- 3.8.1 Market Estimate
- 3.9 Major WMN Vendors and their Products
- Atheros (chipsets)
- BelAir (Nodes)
- Cisco (Protocols, Nodes)
- Crossbow (nodes)
- Dust Networks (WMN Nodes)
- Ember (ZigBee chips for WMN)
- Intel (Nodes)
- IWT(Network Solution)
- IPMobileNet (WMN)
- FireTide (Mesh network-Public safety applications)
- Kiyon
- MeshDynamics (Nodes)
- Millennial Net (SW and Systems)
- Moteiv (Nodes and SW)
- MeshNetworks (Motorola)
- Mitre (protocols)
- Motorola (Nodes-Public Safety Communications)
- Newtrax (WSN-mesh, UGS)
- NexGen City (Mesh-Public Safety)
- Northrop Grumman (Nodes)
- Nortel (WMN Systems)
- NovaRoam (Public Safety Communications - WMN)
- Octave Technologies (SW)
- PacketHop (WMN SW; in a process of acquiring by SRI International)
- Proxim (WMN Nodes)
- Rajant (WMN-Military, First Responders)
- Sensoria (WMN for Public Safety Communications)
- Sensicast (WMN for Industrial Automation)
- SIAE (WMN for IA)
- SkyPilot Networks (WMN Nodes)
- Strix (Nodes-First Responders)
- Trango (Mesh for First responders)
- Qorvus (WMN for IA)
- Tropos (routers, OS)
- Ubiwave (Mesh Network)
- 3.10 WMN and First Responders
4.0 Ultra Wideband (UWB) Technologies and First Responders Communications
- 4.1 General
- 4.2 Obstacles
- 4.3 Benefits
- 4.4 Definition
- 4.5 Rates
- 4.6 Spectrum Allocation
- 4.7 Choices
- 4.8 Major Features
- 4.9 Standards and Regulations
- 4.9.1 Multiband OFDM
- 4.9.1.1 WiNet
- 4.9.2 DS-UWB
- 4.9.3 Groups
- 4.9.4 Security
- 4.9.1 Multiband OFDM
- 4.10 Major Applications
- 4.10.1 UWB-Bluetooth
- 4.11 Market Estimate
- 4.11.1 General
- 4.11.2 Geographical Segmentation
- 4.11.3 Forecast
- 4.12 Industry
- Aether (localization devices)
- Alereon (chipsets)
- Artimi (chipsets)
- BBN (radio, first responders applications)
- Camero (radar, equipment for first responders)
- Focus Enhancement (chipsets)
- Freescale (chipsets, systems)
- General Atomics (chipsets)
- Intel (Chips, standards)
- Multispectral (RFID and others)
- Parco (RFID)
- Pulse~ Link (chipsets)
- Staccato (chipsets)
- Time Domain (chipsets-fusion of communications & radar)
- Tzero (chipsets)
- Ubisense (RFID-tracking)
- Wisair (chipsets)
- WiQuest (chipsets)
5.0 P25-Standard Trunked Radio for First Responders
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 General
- 5.2.1 Beginning
- 5.3 Project 25/TIA 102: Scope
- 5.3.1 Efforts
- 5.3.2 Phased Approach
- 5.3.2.1 Transition
- 5.3.3 General Mission and Objectives
- 5.3.4 Technical Highlights
- 5.3.4.1 Common Air Interface
- 5.3.4.2 RF Sub-system
- 5.3.4.3 Inter-system Interface
- 5.3.4.4 Telephone Interconnect Interface
- 5.3.4.5 Network Management Interface
- 5.3.4.6 Host and Network Data Interfaces
- 5.3.5 Major Characteristics-Summary
- 5.4 Spectrum: Problems
- 5.4.1 Major Improvements
- 5.5 Services
- 5.6 Network Scenario
- 5.6.1 P25 and TETRA
- 5.7 Market
- 5.7.1 Prices
- 5.7.2 Forecast
- 5.8 Vendors
- Daniels
- EADS
- EF Johnson
- Harris
- Kenwood
- M-A-Com (TycoElectronic)
- Motorola
- Relm
- Raytheon
- Tait Electronics
- Technisonic
- Westel
- Wireless Pacific
6.0 700 MHz Band
- 6.1 Current Situation
- 6.1.1 Regulation
- 6.1.2 Partnership
- 6.1.3 Framework
- 6.2 Licensing
- 6.2.1 Bidders
- 6.3 Benefits
- 6.4 FCC Rules
- 6.5 Market
- 6.5.1 WiMax Segment
- 6.5.2 Public Safety Radio Segment
- 6.6 Vendors
- Alcatel-Lucent
- Aloha Partners
- Cyren Call
- Frontline
- IPWireless
- MediaFlo USA (Qualcomm Subsidiary)
- Vanu
- 6.7 Services
7.0 Conclusions
Attachment: Bidders (700 MHz)- As of the end 2007
Appendix 1 - Project 25/ANSI 102 Major Standards
FIGURES:
- Figure 1: First Responders: Frequency Bands
- Figure 2: Satellite Channels
- Figure 3: Radio Technologies for WMN
- Figure 4: Mesh Network Equipment Sale: Market Estimate ($B)
- Figure 5: Estimate: Mesh Network equipment Sale for First Responders Application
- Figure 6: Technology Segmentation: Mesh Network Market
- Figure 7: Mesh Network Market Geography (2006)
- Figure 8: UWB Spectrum
- Figure 9: Market Estimate: UWB Circuitry ($B)
- Figure 10: Market Estimate: Multiband OFDM UWB Circuitry ($B)
- Figure 11: Market Estimate: DS UWB Circuitry ($B)
- Figure 12: Estimate of UWB Market - Communications Applications ($B)
- Figure 13: P25 Network Architecture
- Figure 14: P25 Phased Approach
- Figure 15: Estimate of the U.S. P25 Radio Market
- Figure 16: Worldwide P25 Market Estimate ($B)
- Figure 17: Revised frequency Plan
- Figure 18: Revised Spectrum (Upper 700 MHz sub-band)
- Figure 19: Details
- Figure 20: 802.16e Equipment Sales Projection ($B)
- Figure 21: 802.16e Service Revenue Projection ($B)
- Figure 22: 700 MHz 802.16e Service Revenue Estimate (($M)
- Figure 23: 700 MHz 802.16e Equipment Sale Estimate ($M)
- Figure 24: Market Estimate: P25 700 MHz Radio ($M)
TABLES:
- Table 1: States Emergency Network Examples
- Table 2: WMN Security Options
- Table 3: Comparison: DS-UWB and MB-OFDM
- Table 4: UWB Forum and WiMedia
- Table 5: P25 Services
- Table 6: P25 Radio Prices
- Table 7: PSR Frequency Allocation
- Table 8: History
- Table 9: Licenses
- Table 10: Major Bidders (as of January 2008; Excluded Google)
- Table 11: Benefits
