BAPCO and CC EUROPE 2019

LTE mobile broadband networking is quickly becoming an established part of the critical communications landscape. In the consumer sector, IP-based wireless data services have demonstrated remarkable capabilities serving a wide range of use cases and applications. Once limited to simple voice communications, cellular networks now deliver video and serve as a foundation for the Internet of Things (IoT).

With mission-critical LTE networks coming on the scene, opportunities arise to tap IoT in service of mission-critical use cases addressing the safety of emergency responders as well as the health and welfare of the public they serve. This shift, termed by some the "Internet of Life-Saving Things (IoLST)," is a major theme for 2019.

IoT and IoLST devices are machines that require internet connectivity to operate. Early consumer IoT devices introduced health-focused tools such as connected scales, remote health monitoring and patient tracking devices that enhace the healthcare delivery system's effectiveness. In the mission-critical IoLST realm, devices expand to include a wide array of sensors -- environmental, health, air supply, firearm activation, etc. -- or actuators that control the environment. With these, the IoLST brings the promise of improved medical care and increased safety for the emergency responders engaged during missions.

Going Beyond Voice Communications

For years, critical communications was synonymous with voice transmission. With mission-critical LTE becoming a reality, the equation now shifts. While group voice transmissions remain vital, the opportunity for new forms of information exchange become viable. By using sensors to expand situational awareness and connected medical devices to improve patient care, IoLST promises to transform public safety operations in the 21st century as much as the introduction of voice radio communications did in the 20th century. BAPCO/CC Europe 2019 will be an ideal venue for stakeholders -- end users, innovators, suppliers -- to take the full measure of its opportunity and challenge.

We look forward to seeing you in Coventry!

Ken Rehbehn
Principal Analyst | CritComm Insights
Web: www.critcomminsights.com
Twitter: @krehbehn