17 September 2024

The key requirement for mission-critical communications users is that their devices are connected to the network – no coverage means no calls. Operating at higher transmit powers than standard consumer mobiles, High Power User Equipment (HPUE) can extend the reach of the device, helping to ensure that critical communications users stay in contact even where network connection is poor. However, this enhancement will only happen if the challenges identified in a new white paper from TCCA are addressed without delay.

TCCA’s white paper summarises the findings from a targeted market survey conducted by TCCA’s Critical Communications Broadband Group (CCBG) Mission-Critical HPUE task force. The objectives of the survey were to understand the market requirements for mission-critical HPUE, identify potential challenges, and ultimately to advise user organisations, critical communications operators and equipment suppliers on the successful development, deployment and use of HPUE solutions.

"Mission-critical broadband HPUE devices have the potential to deliver significant benefits to the critical communications sector,” said Tim Clark, TCCA Board member and leader of the Mission-Critical HPUE task force. “HPUE can help to ensure that public safety first responders, coastguards, military and mobile workers within sectors such as utilities, transport and natural resources stay in contact, even while operating in remote locations or inside network coverage blackspots."

The survey respondents represented a wide variety of critical communications users, with findings covering potential use cases, deployment timeframes, device requirements, frequency spectrum requirements and possible interference issues, and deployment challenges.

Multiple potential use cases for HPUE solutions were indicated by the survey respondents, with handheld device coverage enhancement being the most popular. However, a wide variety of different types of HPUE device and equipment will be necessary to meet different users’ requirements. In order to create a diverse device ecosystem, suppliers will need to be convinced of the HPUE business case.

"TCCA strives to bring the global critical communications community together to find potential practical solutions to functional and operational needs of end users. HPUE is a path to address an identified coverage enhancement requirement,” said Kevin Graham, TCCA CEO. “Through a global interest and demand, industry will be encouraged to explore options for commercialisation of solutions to address coverage enhancement using HPUE. We appreciate the input received from stakeholders that shaped this TCCA white paper.”

The next steps for the Mission-Critical HPUE task force are to quantify the market demand for HPUE solutions and build a compelling business case to share with regulators, operators and suppliers, and to work with standards organisations and national bodies to drive availability of additional spectrum for HPUE deployments. The aim is to provide guidance to user organisations on the safe and effective use of HPUE solutions.

The majority of respondents indicated that they will be looking to start using HPUE solutions within the next five years - this means that the challenges highlighted in the survey must be addressed immediately to enable successful deployments.

TCCA’s white paper ‘Mission-Critical High Power User Equipment Market Survey Results’ can be read here.