Lack of spectrum is hindering TETRA’s efforts to evolve into the wireless broadband era, said industry executives Thursday.
Broadband data was high on the agenda at this year’s TETRA World Congress this week as users of the trunked radio technology – from public safety agencies to vertical industries like transport and energy – have been increasingly interested in implementing high-speed data apps like streaming video and image transmission.
Some vendors, like Motorola and EADS Defense & Security, unveiled the first new products for TEDS (TETRA Enhanced Data Services).
Last week, EADS also announced the world’s first TEDS pilot with VIRVE, Finland’s nationwide TETRA network run by State Security Networks.
While first-gen TETRA supports low-speed data apps (less than 5 kbps) in a 25 kHz channel, TEDS offers considerably faster speeds, albeit more on par with first-wave 3G networks like UMTS and cdma2000.
Speeds depend on modulation schemes and spectrum availability, but TEDS can support channels as wide as 150 kHz and, with 64 QAM modulation and four slots, can hit data speeds of close to 540 kbps.
However, current TEDS gear will be limited to between 50 kbps and 100 kbps via four slots in a 50 kHz channel, primarily due to limited spectrum availability for TETRA.
“Public safety agencies were never allocated much spectrum for TETRA because it used 25 kHz channels and didn’t generate high-volume traffic,” says Kevin Graham, Asia-Pacific regional director for Sepura. “Now in Asia we’re seeing a lot of effort in spectrum reform, but everyone wants more – not just TETRA users, but mobile operators and broadcasters as well.”