Etherstack MCX IWF Interworking function

Etherstack launched its carrier grade MCX IWF (InterWorking Function) recently at IWCE 2022 in Las Vegas.

The MCX IWF is a telco network element that bridges traditional public safety land mobile radio (LMR) networks with next generation MCPTX (mission-critical push-to-talk) services that carriers are beginning to deploy for public safety agencies globally. Standards-based migration from existing LMR networks to carrier 4G/LTE and 5G MCX networks requires the use of an MCX IWF to enable secure and robust interoperability between the LMR and MCX domains.

According to Etherstack these hybrid LMR and MCX networks will be commonplace for at least another decade as traditional LMR users migrate to MCX. The Etherstack MCX IWF directly supports a wide range of P25, TETRA and DMR IWF standards-based protocols including the P25 ISSI, CSSI, DFSI and DMR AIS, as well as RoIP and analogue interfacing capabilities via certified customer premise equipment located at public safety agencies’ premises.

The Etherstack MCX IWF additionally supports both LMR network homed subscribers as well as carrier MCX homed subscriber architectures. Other key features include local and geo-redundancy capability, high availability link support and a wide range of LMR-centric supplementary services and call types across the interworking link.