Sepura partnership provides LTE network for Europe

The first mission-critical LTE network has been deployed in Europe, under a partnership with Sepura and Técnicas Competitivas.

Building on the existing Teltronic NEBULA system, it uses an eNEBULA system deployed as a hybrid TETRA-LTE network, the MVC-6000.

Already fully operational, the deployment provides complementary broadband services to RESCAN, the private TETRA network of the Canary Islands’ Public Safety agencies, whose end users include ambulance, police and environmental services.

“A hybrid TETRA-LTE network expands the range of services available to PMR users, protecting their investment while maintaining the same levels of security, reliability and resilience,” said Juan Ferro, Sepura’s vice president systems.

“This revolutionary deployment represents a significant milestone in mission-critical communications and provides a clear path for the evolution of existing TETRA systems.”

The system was designed to comply with the rigorous availability and security parameters required in mission-critical environments. In addition to high data transmission rates, it offers low latencies in call establishment and data transmission; an integrated network management system for both TETRA and LTE radio access; and specific functionalities for professional communications, such as group calls, emergency calls or priority management.

In accordance with spectrum regulations for public safety users and broadband services laid out in Spain’s national table of frequency allocations, the system was implemented in frequency bands below 1 GHz, bringing additional benefits in terms of radio propagation and indoor coverage.