First Responders Need Data. Can LTE Networks Come to the Rescue?

Push-to-Talk (PTT) radios are first responders’ primary means of communication in an emergency. These two-way radios rely on Land Mobile Radio (LMR) networks to carry signals. PTT radios and LMR networks are reliable and secure, and fire, police, and other emergency response teams know these systems well. But voice radios are not enough anymore. Two-way radios can’t send pictures, blueprints, and maps and they can’t talk with units from other jurisdictions. Without these capabilities, communications could break down, jeopardizing rescue and response efforts. That’s why the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division funded the Public Safety Radio Data grant. The project aims to collect and publish active public safety radio system transmission data from LMR systems. This LMR traffic data can support efforts to develop public safety traffic models for more advanced telecommunication systems and technology, such as LTE. These traffic models will also ensure resources are allocated equitably and optimally, from cities to the countryside and everywhere in between. If public safety organizations can further integrate LTE capabilities into their daily operations, teams could use two-way radios in the same way they use smartphones, with video, maps, blueprints, and photos as well as voice. Interagency coordination could become less challenging because responders from differing counties would be able to communicate with one another more easily. Adopting LTE for first responders could eventually help their devices work with 5G, and beyond.