05 November 2024
Sandra Wendelken, market insights manager, Tait Communications
While 5G technology grabs headlines around the globe and in Africa for its many extraordinary wireless advancements, two-way radio technology deployments continue to grow at a steady rate and provide mission-critical voice communications for enterprises and public sector agencies. Even with the continued growth of two-way radio, the importance of broadband technology for critical communications solutions cannot be overstated. Both broadband and radio technologies have their place in our industry.
The transition from analog to digital two-way radio technologies is underway in many African markets. Globally, digital subscribers accounted for 72% of the total installed base in 2022. While shipments of analog two-way radio terminals are declining in Africa, digital two-way radio shipments are increasing and serve most of the market, according to Omdia.
Advantages of two-way radio
There are many benefits of radio technology for public safety agencies, utilities, oil and gas firms, transportation agencies, and many other organisations that require secure, reliable communications within a defined footprint. While private 5G networks are topping the list of potential future revenue drivers for mobile network operators, two-way radio networks were the first private networks originating decades ago and bringing many advantages.
Reliability. Two -way radio networks are one of the most reliable forms of communications networks. Mobile radio sites are generally built to 99.999% reliability with backup generators for power during extreme weather events. Major cellular system failures have happened already in 2024 to several mobile operators around the globe. During emergencies, two-way radio networks continue to work when other networks are out of service.
Security. Digital radio standards have built-in security protocols to ensure secure communications. No network or technology is foolproof and bad actors continue to evolve their strategies, but two-way radio networks provide one of the most secure communications options for organisations.
Coverage. Two-way radio networks are built to an organisation’s specific coverage requirements. With strong network design, two-way radio sites are placed to maximise coverage where needed. Repeaters and other in-building systems enhance coverage in difficult places such as tunnels, mines, basements, and stairwells.
Diverse Communications. Field workers often need to communicate within teams of colleagues. First responders talk with dispatch centers and with their fellow police officers, firefighters, and emergency management service (EMS) technicians. Radio technology provides the benefits of quickly relaying information to a group or speaking directly with a colleague. In addition, two-way radios provide for direct mode communications, allowing radio-to-radio connectivity. This is an important feature for fireground communications and other emergency scenarios and one that has been difficult to replicate in cellular network services.
Control. Organisations that deploy two-way radio networks control the system and can make adjustments to best fit their requirements. If the organisation does not have the technical staff to maintain the network, two-way radio equipment providers and services firms can offer ongoing managed services of the network and devices so the company or agency can focus on their mission.
Broadband options. Having access to reliable data is essential for police officers, firefighters, utility workers, transportation agency employees, field staff at energy firms, and many other employees in mission-critical industries. The number of options for broadband services is increasing, the technology is evolving, and new use cases will continue to help workers be prepared to do their jobs more safely and efficiently. Two-way radio networks are evolving to include broadband technology or to be used seamlessly and effectively alongside broadband networks.
Digital technology options
When an organisation’s communications network reaches the end of life, there are several digital radio technology standards that can be deployed depending on the organisation’s requirements. Digital standards are important because they ensure an open, flexible technology environment that contributes to a multi-vendor market with competitive pricing.
Project 25 (P25). P25 is one standard for the design and manufacture of interoperable digital two-way wireless communications products. Developed in North America with state, local and federal government representatives and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) governance, P25 has gained worldwide acceptance for public safety, security, public service, and commercial applications. Radio equipment that demonstrates compliance with P25 can meet a set of minimum requirements to fit the needs of users. While the P25 standard was originally created for public safety professionals, the technology is also used globally by utilities, transportation agencies, and other mission-critical infrastructure entities. P25 systems can operate in conventional or trunked modes, with two phases of the technology.
The P25 Compliance Assessment Program (CAP), overseen by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ensures interoperability between the equipment from the various P25 manufacturers. The TIA TR-8 Working Group that oversees P25 standards continually updates the standard, with recent enhancements to security for example.
Digital Mobile Radio (DMR). DMR is a digital radio standard specified for business mobile radio users developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and first ratified in 2005. The primary goal is to specify affordable digital systems with low complexity. DMR provides voice, data, and other supplementary services. Products designed to the standard’s specifications are sold in all regions of the world. Most mission critical DMR deployments are comprised of Tier 2 conventional technology and Tier 3 trunked systems. The Applications Interface (AIS) was developed by members of the DMR Association with the goal of enabling applications to benefit from interoperability between an application and DMR infrastructure from different vendors.
The DMR Association also developed the DMR Interoperability Process (IOP) so that users and equipment suppliers benefit from a truly open multi-vendor market for DMR equipment. The interoperability process is a formal and consistent test mechanism allowing manufacturers to test that their products are compatible. The association lists more than 200 members on its website.
TETRA. The TETRA standard, also developed by ETSI, is a suite of standards covering different technology aspects, including air interfaces, network interfaces and its services and facilities. TETRA has been developed in releases (phases) known as TETRA Release 1 and TETRA Release 2. While the standard originated in Europe, with the first use cases in public safety, the technology is currently deployed in networks around the world across multiple vertical markets.
TETRA association TCCA also developed an Interoperability Certification process (IOP) to enable an open multi-vendor market for TETRA equipment and systems. The Interoperability Certification Process is managed by TCCA’s Technical Forum (TF) with targets and priorities set jointly between users, operators, and manufacturers. TCCA has various working groups and releases white papers around topics related to the standard.
Eskom gains reliability and safety gains with DMR
Eskom is a state-owned electricity generation, transmission and distribution business in South Africa. It is the largest producer of electricity in Africa and one of the world’s largest utilities in terms of generation capacity and sales. In fact, the utility produces 95% of South Africa’s electricity and exports energy to neighboring countries.
For many years, Eskom considered its options to upgrade from its existing conventional analogue network. In 2017, the company released a tender for a DMR Tier 3 network. Tait Communications supplied initial equipment to enable the company to undertake deployment and system testing. A subsequent order for the remaining network components was shipped in February 2024.
Eskom’s final system includes seven regional DMR Tier 3 sub-networks, node controllers, a gateway, numerous base stations, and network monitoring software. The utility will also deploy 3,000 portable radios from three different manufacturers, demonstrating the value of selecting open standards. Eskom is not locked into one vendor’s portable radio products or pricing.
The network has provided Eskom with efficiency, reliability and safety gains. The move to DMR has enabled the company to reduce the number of sites it operates by about 50%. Further efficiencies are expected with monitoring and control of the new network in a single site at Eskom’s central control management centre in Johannesburg, with the back-up centre in East London.
Of course, Eskom and all organisations must assess their requirements and user needs before moving forward with any technology upgrade or deployment. Many factors will determine which digital two-way radio technology best fits an agency’s requirements. Once a technology has been selected and deployed, the digital communications network can enhance the safety, productivity, and security of the organisation for years to come.
Digital mobile radio is growing steadily in South Africa and most African countries. With the many advantages that two-way radio networks offer and the interoperable and cost-effective digital standards that can address many mission-critical requirements, that upswing is expected to continue through at least the end of the decade.
