Motorola, Ericsson Team On LTE Public Safety Network

In a move to improve the nation's largely dysfunctional public safety network, Motorola is teaming up with Ericsson to create a unified public safety platform that will enable real time information sharing between command centers and remote devices.

Each company is the leader in its respective market -- Motorola Solutions in public safety and Ericsson in long-term evolution (LTE) infrastructure deployment.

Ever since communications generally failed during the 9/11 terrorist attack and Hurricane Katrina, public safety agencies have been working with suppliers to beef up response times.

In Tuesday's announcement, Motorola and Ericsson noted that LTE mobile broadband technology will allow Motorola's unified public safety platform to improve the delivery of real-time information sharing between command centers and remote devices like handheld LTE data devices, rugged radios, and in-vehicle terminals.

Recent internal changes at both firms have helped pave the way to a cooperative approach to using LTE for public safety. Earlier this summer, Motorola spun out some of its important networking infrastructure in a $1.2 billion sale to Nokia Siemens Networks. Ericsson became the world's dominant LTE infrastructure supplier when it acquired Nortel Network's LTE/CDMA operation for $1.3 billion.

"High-speed mobile broadband and LTE-based technology provide new opportunities for the public safety sector," said Ulf Ewaldsson, Ericsson's VP and head of radio networks, in a statement. "4G enables a number of new applications and video communication from the site of accident to the communication central. Improved situation awareness empowers efficient decisions, secure assets, and property and may in the end, save lives."

Motorola will contribute its public safety optimized LTE core, advanced devices, video security, and command and control solutions to the unified platform, while Ericsson will contribute LTE access gear and packet core and some services.

LTE is in the process of being rolled out in the United States with MetroPCS expected to debut its system later this month and Verizon Wireless planning to deploy its LTE network in at least 25 U.S. cities by the end of the year.

For Further Reading

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