Technology OptionsÂ
There is a wrong perception and lack of awareness about the features and
value-added services that radio trunking can offer. Handsets are getting lighter
and sleeker, while innovative voice and data capabilities are being added and
offered by operators.
For example, various levels of user hierarchy can be defined for a given
group of users. In case of emergency a ‘super user’ can break into an
ongoing communication (between two users) by using special, predefined rights
(say a password).
Two service options are available for enterprises–outsourcing and captive.
Outsourcing is about availing the service through a service provider, whereas a
captive approach allows an enterprise to bypass the service provider and seek
the user license directly from DoT. Outsourcing is the best option for
corporates for intracity communication within congested cities. Captive systems
are best used by police, security forces, etc which cannot use public networks
due to security reasons and have a dedicated technical team to maintain the
network and also access to spectrum.
n Terrestrial
Trunked Radio (TETRA): A European standard, defined by the ETSI, TETRA is a
user-driven, open standard for next-generation digital mobile communications.
Optimized to deliver voice, data and messaging services for one-to-one and
complex group communications, TETRA is targeted at professional users in
government agencies and commercial enterprises.
n Integrated
Dispatch Enhanced Network (iDEN): A proprietary technology, iDEN combines
the capabilities of four distinct communication devices into one handset, using
a single network. This system enables digital telephone, two-way radio, short
message service, and wireless modem service for flexible and efficient business
communications.
n Logic
Trunked Radio (LTR): LTR is a type of trunking logic first introduced in the
market in 1979 by a company called EF Johnson. This system soon became the de
facto standard in radio systems in the United States. This type of system is
basically a form of mobile relay utilizing multiple radio channels, whereas the
mobile units assigned to this system are always using a channel that is not busy
or assigned to a user or active conversation. This is accomplished by mobile
radio logic interpreting the commands of channel controllers connected by a
high-speed data bus at the repeater site. In the dynamics of operation, the
subscriber (user) gets the illusion that he is the only person on the radio as
he does not hear anyone else on this system and most of the time has a clear
access to the system. Major vendors offering products based on this technology
are EF Johnson, Kenwood, Standard, Securicor/Midland, Vertex, Uniden and
Motorola.Â
n MPT 1327:
An open standard defined by the British Ministry of Post and Telecommunications
(MPT). As an open protocol, companies can make best-in-class components and have
the pieces work together with other manufacturers. MPT 1327 uses a digital
control channel with analog voice channels. The digital control channel supports
several high-end system features including superior security and mobile data.
The burst technology feature of MPT 1327 allows trunking system traffic to
coexist with conventional traffic. No other protocol allows this kind of
versatility without the expense of a high-end system. Because MPT 1327 is an
open standard and uses analog voice channels, handsets typically cost less than
handsets compliant with other protocols. Being open allows the operators the
offer subscribers the freedom to use the terminals of any of the vendors like
Simoco, Motorola, Nokia, Tait. Mobilkom India, for example, offers services
based on this protocol in the NCR region, in technical collaboration with Rohde
& Schwarz, a German vendor.
Buying Tips
Enterprise: BCCL
Service Provider: Mobilkom India
Bharat Coaking Coal Limited employing more than 500,000 employees is a Government of India undertaking having coal mines spread over in the radius of 50 km near Dhanbad. BCCL was facing communication problem and was facing difficulty to upkeep its lanlines due to excavation and movement of heavy traffic, and fire. The nature of mining industries of shifting the workplace as there are number of mines, department, coal washeries and weigh-brigade, transportation and emergency services. BCCL was in search of communication system, which should provide communication in such a way that could give individual, group and emergency communication. Mobilkom India started offering services to BCCL as a complete communication tool.
Several subgroups were formed to address the specific communication needs of users. For example, Group 900, say, has all the radios with BCCL. In the case of emergency, by pressing 900 everybody gets the message wherever or whatever he may be. This can be converted to emergency call as well. Whereby on pressing certain codes the people engaged in talking to someone or the other would be disconnected and the emergency can be relayed on all these radios.
901 is the group define to meet the requirement of the chief executives of the organization that has not to be bothered by the incoming calls from anybody except if specified. 901—905 are Individual groups to make group calls to individual departments. They are allowed to talk on their own group. According to the arrangement, the chief of the group can monitor the total movement of his or her respective department. However, every radio has been allotted individual numbers.
n Coverage: This
is the most important parameter, considering that enterprises would want to have
his entire area of his business operation covered by an operator. The larger the
coverage, the better for the enterprise. Most of the operators have a decent
coverage having multiple sites in major metros. For example, Agrani covers
Mumbai through three sites, whereas Chennai/Bangalore/Hyderabad/Pune are covered
by one site each which is strategically located. One should go with the operator
with multi-city coverage. Agrani has a wide network that covers metro and
mini-metro cities. Mobilkom offers services in Delhi, Shimla, and Dhanbad.
n Network
Quality: Enterprises should check out if operators have fully redundant
networks. Grade of services should be around 5 percent, which some operators
offer by a judicious network and spectrum planning. This means that operators
should have a mechanism for efficient transportation of voice traffic and
compression of the signal tone, which is essential to the operation of the
mobile radio equipment without compromising reliability or quality.
n Price: Though
most of the operators offer services on more or less same rates, but you can
demand a special prices. Compare the rates offered by various operators. As
handsets are not available in the open market, they command a uniform price.
n Additional
Features and Data Capability: See if the radio trunking operator is
providing services beyond plain voice. For example, logistics companies should
see that the operator has automatic vehicle location (AVL) system in place for
better fleet management.
The Western Railways recently deployed this system for passenger information
on local trains in Mumbai. Operators are even ready to provide services to
airline companies to offer flight updates to customers which can be displayed at
prominent places.
Check out if operators provide services like group calls, individual calls,
subgroup calls, broadcast calls, include calls, late entry, priority calls,
acknowledged calls–own and third-party call diversion, data calls, emergency
calls, dynamic group number assignment, dual-mode operation call alert,
unanswered calls.
n Capacity to
Scale up: This is important considering the increasing demand of the
corporate. Any operator who has the resources to increase the existing capacity
to accommodate the enhanced requirement should be considered.
n Confidentiality
of Communication: User should take an undertaking from the operators to
ensure the privacy and confidentiality of information that is carried in the
network. Usually users in the same talk group are assigned the exclusive use of
a private voice channel. The ability to combine multiple departments or agencies
under one system while maintaining independent operations is the cornerstone of
radio trunking.
n Price of
Service: This is an important criteria, but most of the operators charge
almost uniformly and they even offer some corporate discounts. Typically monthly
rental is Rs 750 per month per handset. Needless to say this comes with
unlimited talk time. Operators even offer cheaper rates if the service is taken
on a long-term basis. Price of Radios and Accessories.
n Channel
Efficiency: A trunked radio system is inherently capable of providing more
efficient channel usage as compared to other competing services. Radio trunking
users can have reliable, quick access to a channel during emergencies and avail
of advanced features to help ensure that these calls will get through. Many
vendors/operators offer the dynamic regrouping feature. This feature allows the
system to reassign units so that users can talk between departments for special
events. In case radios are lost or stolen, they can be disabled remotely by the
central controller.
Market Information
Last year saw a spurt in the interest level amongst customers which could
use vehicle tracking solutions. The predominance of vehicle-mobiles over
handsets continued with the growth of three verticals viz., call-centres,
radio-taxis and cash-vans (used for ATM stuffing).
On the Policy front, and consequently on the technology front, unfortunately,
there was only bad news. Agrani Wireless, Subhas Chandra-promoted company set up
after acquired shareholding of the Procall, Quickcalls, Bhilwara Telenet, and
Smartalk has the intention of implementing digital PMRT networks in several
cities but has put it on hold until the regulatory regime is improved. Call
centres, government departments, municipal corporations, security, construction,
schools, cash vans, radio-taxis, consulates, courier and cargo, logistics.
Mobilkom, another leading operator has managed to rope in some big corporate
customers like NTPC, NDTV, NDMC, Dominos, PowerGrid. However, due to bad market
condition and dearth of clients forced Mobilkom to close its operation in Mumbai,
Bhopal, Chandigarh, and Kolkata The recent TRAI recommendations have been a
mixed bag. The clarification that the 5% revenue share, paid as license fees to
DoT, covers the DoT + WPC license fees and royalty for spectrum use, and also
the clarification that revenue from the sale of handsets cannot be treated as
revenue for the purpose of computing AGR, has been welcomed. Restricting PSTN
access and denying a numbering plan by TRAI is seen as a hurdle towards
introduction of digital technology.
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