17 December 2021
Today, mission critical communications rely on dedicated Land Mobile Radio (LMR) networks to provide a high grade of service for availability, reliability and security. Worldwide, many of these networks are based upon the TETRA standard, providing narrowband voice and data services to its users
Mission critical users have traditionally relied on voice services but are evolving their operations to encompass many more data services and applications, many of which can be carried over TETRA. There is, however, an increasing need for the use of data services such as video and high-speed data, which have higher bandwidth requirement than narrowband systems can deliver, and require broadband data services, such as LTE, to satisfy this demand and complement their narrowband communications.
Mission Critical LTE (MC-LTE) has been defined by 3GPP as an international standard to provide an equivalent service to current TETRA systems using LTE services. The specification provides for mission Critical Voice (MCPTT), Mission Critical Video (MCVideo) and Mission Critical Data (MCData) allowing both voice and broadband data capabilities to be combined into a single technology. The service provides Quality of Service performance guarantees, prioritisation and end-to-end security. A set of key performance indicators are defined for communications, and these values are intended to ensure that Mission Critical LTE service provides performance that is as good as existing LMR standards and solutions.
To answer this growing need in the market, Sepura has launched its first mission critical LTE solution; the powerful SCU3 Broadband Vehicle Device is ready for today’s mission critical users whilst also offering flexible opportunities for the future.
With Sepura’s experience delivering trusted critical communications solutions, the SCU3 has been designed for use in vehicles and/or fixed office locations, and supports Mission Critical Voice (MCPTT), video (MCVideo) and data (MCData) features.
Built on the market leading Android operating system, the device provides compatibility with a wide range of applications which have been designed to run on existing Android smartphones and tablets.
The device features an optional TETRA modem, enabling narrowband voice and data services, whilst also supporting Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, providing connections to a range of accessories and ancillary systems. Paired with Sepura’s Mobile Device Management (SDM) solution, the SCU3 Broadband Vehicle Device is the complete communications solution for today’s critical communications users.
Sepura has a proven history of providing mission critical devices to users around the world, in a variety of harsh environments. The SCU3 is the latest evolution of this; a fit for purpose mission critical device, designed for exactly the type of public safety use that Sepura has decades of experience in and now with the advantage of adding broadband data to our solutions.
Sepura has a proven history of providing mission critical devices to users around the world, in a variety of harsh environments. The SCU3 is the latest evolution of this; a fit for purpose mission critical device, designed for exactly the type of public safety use that Sepura has decades of experience in and now with the advantage of adding broadband data to our solutions.
In combination with the Sepura Accessory Hub (SAH3), the SCU3 can be connected to a wide range of Sepura and third party accessories, providing flexibility for vehicle and fixed installations, including a Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) which gives the user complete control, with ergonomic buttons designed to enable safe, error free use in vehicles that may be moving at speed. The option to reuse existing Sepura accessories means the cost of ownership is minimised and training requirements are significantly lowered.
Steve Barber, CEO, Sepura
"Sepura is a leading provider of mission critical solutions to critical communications users and the SCU3 is the next step forward in supporting our customers around the world. With increasing demand from the market to integrate data into their operations, the SCU3 complements the TETRA solutions used and trusted by Sepura’s customers."
Mission critical users are always looking for ways to extend their capability, and the Sepura LTE solution enables them to do exactly this; adding broadband data to support their operations, while benefitting from the proven quality, coverage and robustness of TETRA voice communications.
For further information on Sepura’s solutions, visit www.sepura.com.
