ETSI launches Technical Committee on Critical Communications Systems

ETSI has announced the creation of a new Technical Committee on Critical Communications Systems (TC CCS). The inaugural kick-off meeting of the committee brought together over 50 participating constituencies from across the critical communications ecosystem.

Part of the work will be carried over from the now closed ETSI committee TCCE while new work items will primarily be focusing on supporting the creation of the European Critical Communication System EUCCS.

Two of the focus areas of the group are the maintenance and evolution of the TETRA standard, and the development of international standards for mission‑critical narrowband and broadband communications. These two pillars form the core of the committee’s work, ensuring that critical communications users can rely on secure, interoperable and future‑proof technologies.

The committee will collect and specify operational and technical requirements from stakeholders to ensure that future standards support resilient, interoperable and secure communications capabilities across increasingly critical converged communications infrastructures.

Key responsibilities will include:

• TETRA evolution: Continuing the maintenance and enhancement of the globally deployed ETSI TETRA standard while supporting migration pathways towards future broadband and hybrid communications environments.
• Mission-critical broadband: Developing international standards that ensure secure, interoperable and resilient broadband services for public safety and other critical sectors.
• Stakeholder requirements: Collecting and specifying operational and technical requirements from governments, regulators, emergency services, industry and other sectors.
• European Critical Communications System: Supporting the development of specifications and reports for Europe’s future critical communications infrastructure.
• Interoperability and standard alignment: Collaborating with European and international standards bodies to promote harmonised, interoperable approaches and minimise duplication across critical communications initiatives.
   

“ETSI TC CCS marks the concrete beginning of a new chapter for critical communications standardisation in Europe as we prepare for EUCCS deployment by 2030,” said Renaud Mellies, Vice Chair of TC CCS.

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