TCCA, GCF launch MC certification taskforce

The Global Certification Forum (GCF) and The Critical Communications Association (TCCA) have formed a joint taskforce to progress certification for mission-critical PTT (MCPTT), mission-critical data (MCData) and mission-critical video (MCVideo), collectively known as MCX or MCS (mission-critical services).

According to the two organisations, there is a need “for a formal interoperability testing and certification process to ensure compliance to standards and give end users a seamless service”, with the added advantage of making systems manufacturer-agnostic.

The taskforce will investigate a number of aspects of mission-critical communications:

• Availability of suitable conformance test equipment
• Development of a certification process with inputs from vendors, users and network operators
• End-to-end interoperability and security of devices, servers, applications, services and networks
• Management and governance of joint mission-critical certification
   

The certification process will be an evolution of TCCA’s TETRA Interoperability and Certification Process — developed to enable an open multivendor market — as well as GCF’s certification for 2G through to 5G devices.

GCF’s Lars Nielsen (left) and TCCA’s Tony Gray.

“A device that meets all certification requirements for the technology bands, and features it supports, gives confidence that everything possible has been done by the manufacturer to guarantee delivery of the highest quality of service for users,” said Lars Nielsen, CEO of GCF.

“This is of paramount importance within the realms of public safety and we look forward to rolling out the testing and certification specifics with TCCA during the coming year.”

“GCF’s experience and knowledge of the mobile industry, and TCCA’s long-established expertise in critical communications, bring complementary strengths together,” said TCCA Chief Executive Tony Gray.

The taskforce’s initial actions will be concluded during the first half of 2020.

Current supporters of the taskforce are: Airbus, Alea, Anritsu, Dekra, DSB, du, Ericsson, German Federal Agency for Public Safety Digital Radio (BDBOS), ETSI, French Gendarmerie, Frequentis, Huawei, Hytera, IoTAS, Keysight, Leonardo, Motorola Solutions, MultiTech, Nemergent Solutions, Orange, Police Netherlands, Pro-M, Samsung, SmartViser, Sprint, Suomen Erillisverkot, Swissphone, Telecom Italia, UK Home Office, Umlaut, University of the Basque Country and Zetron.

Top image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Murrstock