White Paper Zetron’s Broadband Emergency Communications … · Broadband Emergency ommunications enter Solutions Broadband Emergency ommunications enter Solutions Figure 1: P25

Zetron’s Broadband Emergency Communications Center Solutions

White Paper

White PaperBroadband Emergency Communications Center Solutions

Broadband Emergency Communications Center Solutions

Figure 1: P25 Open Standard Interfaces

OverviewPush-to-talk (PTT), text, pictures, video and other broadband capabilities are being delivered now to emergency communications centers through national public safety broadband networks (NPSBN) and Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) networks, and these capabilities will only continue to grow over time. During this transition, interoperability is essential between legacy and emerging networks. Zetron solutions are standards-based and integrated with today’s mixed narrow-band and broadband systems so they’re able to meet broadband interoperability needs, now and in the future.

The Emergence Of National Public Safety Broadband Networks (NPSBNs)Dedicated National Public Safety Broadband Networks (NPSBNs) are being planned for countries around the globe. Thanks to the passage of the 2012 Spectrum Act that authorized the creation of the First Responder Network, funding of $7 billion from the spectrum auctions, and the enablement of global cellular standards in support of mission critical applications, the US is among the countries in the forefront of deploying its NPSBN, called FirstNet™1.

FirstNet was launched in the Fall of 2017 following the FirstNet Authority’s award of the contract to AT&T, who is on a five year schedule to build out a dedicated network for public safety agencies. While FirstNet’s 20 MHz spectrum in the 700 MHz band (cellular Band 14) is designated for public safety’s use, it can be shared with extended primary, critical infrastructure users, such as utilities and transportation entities. However, public safety users are guaranteed first allocation of the spectrum when bandwidth nears capacity.

According to the Spectrum Act, the NPSBN must be built on open standards. 3GPP is the body that creates and publishes LTE standards for the global cellular industry and in anticipation of the emergence of NPSBNs, has gradually been creating new standards that support mission critical (MC) services. MC capabilities already released include priority and preemption, MC-PTT, MC-VIDEO and MC-DATA for group voice, video and data use cases.

Even though the build-out of FirstNet is not complete, AT&T is providing today’s FirstNet subscribers with priority access on their existing cellular network, enabled by incorporation of some of 3GPP’s early MC service capabilities. AT&T plans to roll out 3GPP MC-PTT (group voice) capability in 2019, making it available on its commercial network, as well the deployed Band 14 spectrum. Meanwhile, AT&T has been offering FirstNet subscribers their commercial Enhanced PTT broadband group voice communications service as a stop gap until MC-PTT is deployed.

It is important to note that 3GPP’s MC capabilities are not limited to designated NPSBN carriers. 3GPP standards can be deployed by any cellular carrier that chooses to use them. Verizon Wireless already plans to deploy 3GPP MC capabilities and other US carriers may soon choose to do the same.

There is no mandate requiring public safety agencies in the US to use FirstNet, or to use it exclusively. In areas of the country where AT&T/FirstNet has no coverage, users don’t even have the option to use FirstNet. Therefore,



inevitably there will be public safety agencies using a variety of cellular carriers, just as they have historically. Although 3GPP standards support the ability of carriers to enable cross-carrier MC-PTT operation, FirstNet has stated they do not plan to enable this capability for the foreseeable future. Yet there are multi-agency response scenarios that will likely bring together users of multiple carriers at one scene with the need to interoperate. Thus in addition to 3GPP MC-PTT, there is also a need for non-standard solutions that can operate across carriers. These solutions are known as “over-the-top” (OTT) apps that provide voice communications as a pure data service that is inherently interoperable between carriers, and even with WiFi.

Zetron Consoles Are Firstnet ReadyMany of Zetron’s customers are also FirstNet subscribers, and Zetron’s ACOM and MAX Dispatch systems are now being used to connect dispatch centers for those subscribing agencies with their FirstNet-equipped field users2. Today, this is being done via integration with AT&T’s Enhanced PTT service. Zetron has also integrated with other carrier-specific broadband PTT solutions, including Verizon’s PTT Plus. Zetron’s consoles solve the cross-carrier PTT problem by bridging users of AT&T’s Enhanced PTT with users of Verizon’s PTT Plus.

Zetron has also integrated with ESChat, a leading, network-neutral OTT broadband PTT service used by many mission critical agencies. ESChat is the first OTT PTT application to be FirstNet Certified.

LTE SmartPhone

Bridged PTT TrafficAT&T/FirstNet

LTE Cellular Network

LMRConsoleInterface

ZetronESChat or Enhanced PTTPTT over Cellular Service

Land Mobile RadioNetwork

Repeaters

LTE SmartPhone

LTE SmartPhone

Bridged PTT Traffic

Cross-Carrier InteroperabilityOver-the-Top PTT App (such as ESChat)

AT&T/FirstNetLTE Cellular Network

ZetronOn-scene IncidentCommand Console

Enhanced PTTPTT over Cellular Service

VerizonLTE Cellular Network

PTT PlusPTT over

Cellular Service

Carrier B Service

Carrier A Service

PSAP / ECC

Telecommunicators

NG9-1-1ESINet

LMRNetwork

HostedService

LTENetwork

Citizens

First Responders

Call Taking

CAD &GIS

DispatchConsole

LTE SmartPhone



LMRConsoleInterface



Repeaters

LTE SmartPhone

LTE SmartPhone

Bridged PTT Traffic






PTT PlusPTT over

Cellular Service

Carrier B Service

Carrier A Service

PSAP / ECC

Telecommunicators

NG9-1-1ESINet

LMRNetwork

HostedService

LTENetwork

Citizens

First Responders

Call Taking

CAD &GIS

DispatchConsole

Agency A Agency BCommon ResponseIncident



Zetron Consoles are MC-PTT CapableAs 3GPP MC-PTT becomes deployed in FirstNet and other carriers, Zetron’s systems can be upgraded to support 3GPP MC-PTT interfaces. The same organization that develops the APCO Project 25 standards is also developing standards that will enable LMR and Dispatch Console integration with 3GPP MC-PTT. Zetron intends to incorporate these standards into its console solutions.

Zetron Consoles Solve LMR/LTE Interoperability ChallengesSome agencies are moving non-critical users from their LMR systems to FirstNet or other PTT-enabled carriers or OTT solutions. This offloading frees up capacity on some LMR systems, thus extending their practical life without the expense of expansion. Some agencies are also considering an increased reliance on cellular PTT, as 3GPP MC capabilities become deployed. These migratory use cases drive a need for interoperability between existing LMR systems and newly adopted LTE PTT services.

Zetron consoles provide an ideal solution for LMR/LTE interoperability since they already have the ability to connect to virtually every LMR technology and today’s LTE PTT services. Zetron systems support bridges between these communications resources and can either be permanently configured or under the control of dispatchers, who would only enable the bridge on an as-needed basis to ensure LTE traffic doesn’t unnecessarily load the LMR system.

LTE SmartPhone



LMRConsoleInterface



Repeaters

LTE SmartPhone

LTE SmartPhone

Bridged PTT Traffic






PTT PlusPTT over

Cellular Service

Carrier B Service

Carrier A Service

PSAP / ECC

Telecommunicators

NG9-1-1ESINet

LMRNetwork

HostedService

LTENetwork

Citizens

First Responders

Call Taking

CAD &GIS

DispatchConsole



Zetron Solutions Are Delivering Enhanced Broadband CapabilitiesZetron is one of the leading manufacturers of mission critical control room solutions in the world, with thousands of installations not only in the US, but in many of the other countries planning to deploy NPSBNs. Zetron’s solutions fully support legacy Land Mobile Radio (LMR) and 9-1-1 systems and are increasingly incorporating broadband capabilities. Examples include:

• All of Zetron’s core platforms are pure IP-based, the transport method for all emerging broadband solutions.

• Zetron’s MAX Dispatch and ACOM consoles are already integrated with FirstNet through AT&T’s Enhanced PTT, and will soon have integration with all broadband carriers via ESChat’s OTT PTT solution.

• Zetron’s MAX Call Taking handles NG9-1-1 voice and text messaging, with plans to handle other broadband media as they emerge mainstream.

• Zetron’s systems supports optional map-oriented operation, allowing dispatchers to see on a graphical map where field units are located and allowing them to use the map to communicate with those units.

• Zetron’s MAX user interface is designed to reduce visual clutter and provide only the information needed when it’s needed. This is key to avoiding operator overload, especially when new broadband media types are delivered.

• Zetron’s MAX suite of control room solutions spans both ends of the public safety broadband continuum, including NG9-1-1, which will eventually bring broadband media from citizens (regardless of the ESINet provider) and 3GPP MC services and eventually deliver broadband media to first responders (regardless of the carrier). It also includes data to link incidents to responders in real time through CAD and GIS. This end-to-end capability will enable the smooth flow of media from citizen to first responder, helping reduce potential data overload on telecommunicators.

Zetron has dedicated staff carefully watching the emergence of broadband use cases in order to guide the development of additional broadband capabilities.

ConclusionZetron is the safe and smart choice for open, standards-based, fully interoperable mission critical communications solutions.

LTE SmartPhone



LMRConsoleInterface



Repeaters

LTE SmartPhone

LTE SmartPhone

Bridged PTT Traffic






PTT PlusPTT over

Cellular Service

Carrier B Service

Carrier A Service

PSAP / ECC

Telecommunicators

NG9-1-1ESINet

LMRNetwork

HostedService

LTENetwork

Citizens

First Responders

Call Taking

CAD &GIS

DispatchConsole



Footnotes

1 FirstNet is a registered trade mark of the US Department of Commerce and the First Responder Network Authority, and a trade mark of AT&T.

2 Few, if any agencies, are currently using FirstNet for mission critical voice for frontline first responders. FirstNet voice is typically being used today for non-critical needs, such as administrators, general government users, public works, etc. Most, if not all, public safety users are waiting for the deployment of 3GPP MC-services and FirstNet’s coverage and reliability to reach parity with their existing LMR systems before using FirstNet as their primary communications with first responders. This is one reason the US GAO has issued guidance to continue to fund existing LMR systems for the foreseeable future.

About ZetronZetron has been designing and manufacturing integrated mission-critical communications systems since 1980. Its offerings include IP-based dispatch, NG9-1-1 call-taking, voice logging, IP fire station alerting, CAD, mapping, video surveillance and security integration, and automatic vehicle location (AVL) systems. They are expandable, interoperable, and able to support geo-diverse operations. What’s more, Zetron backs its products with technical support, training, and project-management services known for their skill and responsiveness. With offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, and a global network of partners, resellers, and system integrators, Zetron has installed thousands of systems and over 25,000 console positions worldwide. Zetron is a wholly owned subsidiary of JVCKenwood Corporation. For more information, visit: www.zetron.com.

ZetronMedia ZetronInc @ZetronInc

ZETRON AMERICAS PO Box 97004, Redmond, WA USA 98073-9704 P: +1 425 820 6363 | F: +1 425 820 7031 | E: [email protected]

ZETRON EMEA 27-29 Campbell Court, Bramley, Hampshire RG26 5EG, UK P: +44 1256 880663 | F: +44 1256 880491 | E: [email protected]

ZETRON AUSTRALASIA PO Box 3045, Stafford Mail Centre, Stafford QLD 4053, Australia P: +61 7 3856 4888 | F: +61 7 3356 6877 | E: [email protected]

005-1481A

www.zetron.com

©Zetron, Inc. All rights reserved. Zetron® and Zetron and Design® are registered trademarks of Zetron, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-343

Documents

White Paper Zetron’s Broadband Emergency Communications … · Broadband Emergency ommunications enter Solutions Broadband Emergency ommunications enter Solutions Figure 1: P25