6 Get more wireless transport capacity further with multi-band 13 Significant progress in improving Australia’s network resilience 16 Transforming mining with 5G connectivity 19 New record set for wireless data transmission
21 Australia’s digital dilemmas in the transportation and logistics industry
25 Optimising RF connector selection: technical considerations for superior signal integrity
28 Five ways AI is reshaping telco cloud networks
Hytera Communications has released its Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC) radio P5 Series, including the P50 and P50 Pro, whose combination of durability, intuitiveness and performance makes it suitable for mobile team communication and collaboration in sectors such as security, logistics and transportation. The PoC radios, equipped with professional monopole antennas, deliver good signal performance, enabling push-to-talk calls even in challenging environments. In Band 5, the series achieves a TRP of 18.5 dBm and a TIS of -93.5 dBm, enabling connectivity in areas with weak signals. With 3 W output power and noise cancellation algorithms, the radios provide crystal-clear audio, even in noisy environments. Using wideband audio processing with a 16 kHz sampling rate and a frequency range of 20 Hz to 8 kHz, the series reproduces audio with high clarity, so that voice calls are delivered accurately. The series is designed for user-friendly operation. A professional knob, found on the traditional two-way radio, allows quick group switching and audio notification. With a full-view display, users can quickly access frequently used features such as voice call and group message. The Quick Group feature allows users to create or join groups instantly, enhancing teamwork efficiency. The P50 supports a Wi-Fi-based cloning feature, which fulfils rapid configuration replication across multiple radios so that team members are ready to collaborate immediately. Built to survive demanding environments, the radios boast IP68-rated dustproof and waterproof protection. The rugged design includes extensively tested interfaces, such as the durable 9-pin audio connector and waterproof Type-C port. The series also works seamlessly with the Hytera HyTalk software platform to achieve features such as Lone Worker and Man Down for workplace safety. Caelus Wireless www.caeluswireless.com.au
Do you read me?
It’s fair to say that 2024 did not end on great terms for Australia’s big telcos. In November, Optus copped a fine of $12 million from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for failing to provide access to Triple Zero for over 2000 people during its nationwide outage one year prior, then failing to conduct welfare checks on 269 of those people once the outage was resolved. Other failings by Optus during the outage were identified in a governmentcommissioned post-incident review, led by former ACMA Deputy Chair Richard Bean.
One month later, Telstra was fined $3 million for its conduct during a 90-minute technical disruption at its Triple Zero emergency call centre on 1 March 2024, during which no calling line identification (CLI) was included with incoming calls. When Telstra’s Triple Zero teams attempted to manually transfer each call to the appropriate emergency service during this period, this proved problematic due to errors including holding incorrect backup phone numbers for some of these services, as well as incorrectly entering an email address.
The good news is, the Optus outage in particular has prompted significant progress in improving Australia’s network resilience and emergency connectivity, following the release of Bean’s post-incident review report (although further work is required). On page 13 of this issue, you can read about some of the initiatives that have been undertaken in response to the report’s recommendations, thanks to the hard work of industry body Communications Alliance. This includes updates to various codes and standards, which will be enforced by ACMA; the Authority is also now requiring telco companies to prioritise communication with their customers in the event of a major network outage impacting 100,000 or more services.
Our lead article this issue, on page 6, explores how network operators can achieve highcapacity, long-distance connectivity with multi-band. Other highlights include a look at how AI is reshaping telco cloud networks (page 28); tips to optimise your RF connector selection (page 25); and an argument in favour of private 5G for the mining industry (page 16). Overall, there’s an optimistic tone to this issue — one that I hope will carry through the rest of 2025.
Lauren Davis, Editor cc@wfmedia.com.au
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March
MWC Barcelona 2025 3–6 March 2025
Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain mwcbarcelona.com
The BAPCO Annual Event 5–6 March 2025
Coventry Building Society Arena, UK bapco-show.co.uk
SATELLITE 2025
10–13 March 2025
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, USA
satshow.com
IWCE 2025
17–20 March 2025
Las Vegas Convention Center, USA iwceexpo.com
April
WA Critical Communications Conference and State Networking Dinner
2–3 April 2025
Aloft Perth Hotel arcia.org.au/events/pre-conferenceworkshops-and-conference-perth-2-3april-2025
EENA Conference & Exhibition 2025 9–11 April 2025
Messukeskus Helsinki, Finland eenaconference.org
May
NSW Critical Communications Conference and State Networking Dinner 28–29 May 2025
NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre arcia.org.au/events/criticalcommunications-conference-sydneymay-2025
June
2025 EuCNC & 6G Summit 3–6 June 2025
Poznań Congress Center, Poland eucnc.eu
Comms Connect New Zealand 4–5 June 2025
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, New Zealand www.comms-connect.co.nz
Critical Communications World 2025 17–19 June 2025
For a full list of industry events, see criticalcomms.com.au/events
GET MORE WIRELESS TRANSPORT CAPACITY FURTHER
WITH MULTI-BAND
Stuart Little, Director of Marketing, Aviat Networks
In the quest for high-capacity, long-distance connectivity, network operators face significant hurdles, especially in suburban and rural areas where fibre deployment is scarce and costly. Although E-band offers promising high speeds for short urban links, its limited range — often not exceeding 1 km — poses challenges for extending connectivity over greater distances.
With existing microwave systems nearing capacity limits and availability of traditional microwave spectrum dwindling, the need for an effective solution to transport up to 10 Gbps over distances of 5, 10, 15 km or greater is more pressing than ever. New operators face huge barriers to entry and are challenged to offer advanced mobile networks and better choices for subscribers when the incumbent operators have all the rights to the usable microwave spectrum — they need options for cost-effective, high-capacity backhaul or they face financial struggles right from the outset.
On top of that, in many countries the annual licence fees for microwave bands are extremely high, often exceeding the cost of the microwave
equipment itself. In these cases, moving capacity to E-band (if available) — where spectrum fees are usually lower or even non-existent — can save operators a fortune in OPEX.
Are traditional microwave bands reaching capacity?
Backhaul capacity demand growth is a neverending priority for all operators, especially those widely deploying 5G. Traditional microwave bands can struggle to keep pace for a number of reasons, including lack of available spectrum, high spectrum fee costs, higher-cost tower leases with increasing antenna sizes, and the need to purchase and deploy more equipment as capacity grows. New techniques such as wider channels (224
MHz), higher modulations (up to 16 QAM) and carrier aggregation have helped, but it is increasingly a case of mostly diminishing returns — at some point there is a practical and economical limit.
E-band to the rescue, or not?
The 80 GHz E-band that emerged a number of years ago held promise of supporting high-capacity links up to 10 Gbps or more, very cost-effectively, using a single-channel radio. But there are factors that may make operators think twice about large-scale deployments of this technology:
• Limited reach: Maximum link distances with acceptable availability (99.99% or better) are only up to 2 or 3 km (1 km or less in high rain-rate regions like Asia).
This limits the number of applications and rules out using E-band as a high-capacity replacement for all but the very shortest microwave links.
• Risk of outage: High precipitation can take down a link for an extended period. Unlike microwave fading mechanisms, which can be very short but distributed throughout the year, E-band fading and resulting outages are all rain-induced, and can be long in duration, leading to noticeable service disruptions.
• Difficult to align antennas: E-band antenna beam-widths are very narrow (0.5 degrees vs 2 degrees for a microwave 61 cm antenna). This makes getting the precise alignment very difficult and timeconsuming, raising installation complexity and costs.
• Susceptible to pole or tower sway: Due to narrow antenna beam-width, any appreciable movement in the antenna mount structure can cause the antennas to move out of alignment, leading to signal loss and outages.
We have seen some recent techniques to mitigate some of the above issues, such as self-aligning antennas that allow the use of larger antennas with very narrow beamwidths that usually would be impractical to deploy. Together with higher system gain radios, this can enable extension of E-band paths by maybe up to 50% or more, but in Asia this might get you close to 2 km, which is still not far enough.
According to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), only 20% of links in a typical network are less than 1 km, while 70% of links are up to 7 km long, so this incremental distance improvement is not really a game changer considering the added costs and complexity, and falls short in providing the needed capability of supporting multi-gigabit capacities over longer distances.
The new W- and D-bands at 100 GHz and above are still likely several years away from being released by regulators like the ACMA, and will support maximum path lengths that are shorter than that using E-band.
Multi-band delivers high capacity over long distances
Multi-band is now widely seen as the favoured solution to support high throughputs up to and beyond 10 Gbps, over link distances of up to 10 km and even further (depending on the region) as an alternative to microwave
links that are constrained by narrow channel bandwidths and lack of spectrum.
Multi-band (also known variously as dualband) is a proven and mature approach that combines the high capacity/wide channels of E-band, in parallel with one or more channels in a traditional microwave band, such as 11, 13, 15, 18 or 23 GHz that support priority traffic such as delay sensitive or control data with an availability of 99.995% or better.
Multi-band links have been widely deployed, especially in Europe, where E-band has been overlaid in parallel to existing microwave links to add new capacity, and this overlay approach continues today.
Multi-band architecture evolution
The first multi-band solutions comprised simply an E-band outdoor radio being connected to a standard split-mount microwave terminal via Ethernet, using separate E-band and microwave antennas at each end of the link.
Now, second-generation multi-band systems support an all-outdoor architecture that eliminates the need for an indoor unit, employing efficient Layer 1 link aggregation, and taking advantage of new Dual-Band antennas that combine the mount and feed for the E-band and microwave radio onto a single reflector. It is overall a more elegant and cost-effective solution, but you still need to design, purchase, deploy, configure and manage two individual radio links per site — radios that may not be in the same product family, and so will have different practices for deployment, operations and management, which is costly and not optimal.
With the mass deployment of high-capacity networks in the coming years, something much simpler is needed. One such solution is to combine everything into a single all-outdoor box that can mount directly to the back of the antenna, just like a traditional microwave radio, but which integrates both the E-band and microwave radios, along with the switch and aggregation engine, all in one compact and easy-to-deploy box.
Multi-band in one box brings all the convenience of all-outdoor radios, including:
• One compact radio unit to install and configure
• Direct ‘slip-fit’ antenna mount
• A single aggregated 10 GE interface
• A single network element, one management IP address
• A single GUI/CLI configuration interface
New planning criteria and KPIs for multi-band
To fully embrace multi-band, operators will need to reconsider planning criteria to take into account the fact that link traffic is primarily data. To support this goal, ETSI has been working on new backhaul KPIs, known as backhaul traffic availability (BTA), which takes into account the operator RAN traffic statistics and promises to reduce overengineering of the link without impacting the end-user experience.
These new approaches, combined with the innovations seen in the industry such as single-box multi-band, extended-distance multi-band and vendor-agnostic multi-band, will ensure that operators will be able to transport more capacity over longer distances than they have previously been able to achieve, while at the same time significantly reducing their backhaul costs.
Multi-band is the answer for high-capacity broadband network backhaul
Deploying microwave may meet availability and reliability objectives, but capacity does not easily scale up to or above 1 Gbps. E-band provides the capacity but not high availability, particularly over anything but the very short paths, limiting its usefulness.
So why limit yourself, when you can easily combine the best of both worlds in a single-box multi-band solution and be able to support radio paths up to 4x longer than E-band, while protecting high-priority, mission-critical traffic with four- or fivenines availability?
Multi-band provides ultrahigh capacity, combined with high availability for the most important traffic. So instead of deciding between capacity, distance or high availability, choose all three with multi-band.
Figure 1: Extending 10 Gbps links further with multi-band.
Figure 2: Single-box multi-band — fewer boxes means reduced complexity and lower costs.
UGL COMPLETES RADIO COMMS PACKAGE FOR SYDNEY METRO
Since its launch in August 2024, Sydney’s extended metro system has recorded a whopping 5 million passenger journeys. Every one of those passengers relies on a communications network that was delivered by UGL for MTR Australia (Mass Transit Railway Corporation), supporting seamless operations and maintenance, emergency services and mobile coverage.
UGL’s radio team completed the essential radio system works throughout the city section of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project, providing connectivity for passengers from day one. The scope of work encompassed the installation and commissioning of the critical communications radio systems across all station and tunnel areas, integrating with
COGNITIVE MONITORING NETWORK SERVICE TO IMPROVE MINE SAFETY
Nokia Bell Labs has signed a research agreement with Vale, a Brazilbased global mining company, to implement a cognitive monitoring network service enabling performance, reliability and safety enhancements of mining operations.
The agreement builds on the already existing longstanding relationship at Vale’s autonomous iron ore mine in Carajás, Brazil, understood to be the largest iron ore open pit mine in the world. The technology tested there offers a solution for creating networks that can sense, think and act ahead of time to enable mission-critical communication in a risky environment.
Future mission-critical networks are expected to further enhance productivity and safety by including cognitive services in almost every layer. Nokia Bell Labs and Vale will collaborate to develop such systems for enabling future mining operations and to automate planning intelligence. The relationship aims to create a holistic digital twin for mission-critical connected operations in the mine.
The cognitive monitoring network service will enhance mining operations by utilising data from mine production systems, including hauling trucks, and autonomous drillers, relating them with network KPIs. The project leverages the Nokia Bell Labs NiX (Nokia Industrial eXperience) research platform, which led to the creation of the Network Cognitive Digital Mine (CDM) venture in Nokia’s Strategy and Technology organisation.
“This collaboration between Nokia Bell Labs and Vale is the next step in making the mining industry safer and more productive,” said Lelio Di Martino, General Manager, Cognitive Digital Mine Venture
other critical systems such as train, signalling and communications.
The radio communications package consists of various radio systems designed to provide coverage for different users.
Mobile phone coverage in underground tunnels and stations is provided by the distributed communication system (DCS); operation and maintenance employees use the operations and maintenance radio system; and emergency services rely on the Police and Government Radio Network (PRN/GRN), connected through the radio distribution network (RDN).
UGL was pleased to achieve key project milestones, including completion of installation, system acceptance and integration tests, and practical completion of the city section of the project. Stuart Hosie, Operations Manager – Communications and Technology Systems at UGL, said this accomplishment “reflects the dedication and expertise of every member of the radio team”.
at Nokia. “Mines are complex, multi-domain and multi-stakeholder operations where low agility and high uncertainty can significantly impact profitability. The results of this collaboration will enable the creation of cognitive services that can optimise mining processes. Together, we will drive a revolution that will change the way we design and control networks — and mines.”
Mario Azevedo, Global Manager of Engineering and Technology Projects at Vale, added, “Connectivity is a key enabler for enhancing our operations at Vale, driving improvements in efficiency, safety and performance. By integrating advanced connectivity technologies with Nokia Bell Labs … we ensure more robust and consistent processes across IT and Operational groups, implement real-time monitoring for a safer working environment, and optimise processes to reduce downtime and increase efficiency.”
ACMA REVEALS NEW TELCO INDUSTRY RULES FOR MAJOR OUTAGES
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has announced new rules for the telecommunications industry, requiring companies to prioritise customer communications in the event of a major network outage impacting 100,000 or more services.
Under the new industry standard, which came into effect on 31 December 2024, telcos must put information on their website so customers know what has happened, use a variety of other communications channels — such as their telco call centres and the media — to keep customers up to date, and make arrangements to respond quickly to people who need immediate assistance during an outage.
Customers should expect to be notified by the telco soon after a major outage occurs, and then at least once every six hours for the first 24 hours, but more often if circumstances change. Telcos will need to communicate information including the geographic areas impacted, the likely cause of the outage, the types of services impacted and an estimated timeframe for the issue to be resolved.
“Recent examples have shown that telcos are not always as responsive with information during a major outage as they should be,” said ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin.
“Communications services are vital to our everyday lives, so when there’s a disruption to services it can cause significant inconvenience or even harm for those affected.
“These new rules will ensure that telcos keep the lines of communication open, and that people impacted by a major outage aren’t left in the dark about what’s going on and when their service might be back.”
The Telecommunications (Customer Communications for Outages) Industry Standard 2024 was made in response to the Telecommunications (Customer Communications for Outages Industry Standards) Direction 2024, issued by the Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland back in August. The direction was part of the government’s response to recommendations made in the review of the Optus network outage of 8 November 2023.
“This is the first tranche of reform to improve communication with consumers; we will make further rules in relation to significant local outages by 30 April 2025,” O’Loughlin said. “We are also looking at how best to extend rules to cover outages caused by natural disasters without interfering with time-critical communications from emergency service agencies.
“In the meantime, the ACMA encourages telcos to prioritise keeping their customers updated when unplanned outages occur, regardless of how many people are affected by the outage.”
GOVT FUNDS MOBILE COVERAGE BOOST FOR REGIONAL VIC, NSW
The Australian Government is continuing its efforts to improve mobile coverage on our regional roads and highways, with the $50 million Regional Roads Australia Mobile Program (RRAMP) allocating funding to two more states.
The RRAMP is supporting pilot programs across Australia to improve road safety, strengthen economic growth, improve social connectivity and support regional development. The initiative follows the inaugural Regional Connectivity Ministers Roundtable, held in August 2023, where states and territories agreed to partner with the government to deliver improved mobile coverage across regional Australia. Outcomes from the RRAMP will inform the design of a national program to be announced in 2025.
On 6 November, the government announced $8 million to support pilot projects covering parts of the Great Alpine Road, Great Ocean Road and Monaro Highway in regional Victoria, with a focus on boosting resilience and connectivity during emergencies and natural disasters. The Victorian Government will design and deliver the pilot through a competitive grants program, with applications planned to open in 2025.
Nine days later, RRAMP funding was announced for regional and remote NSW in the form of $9 million for the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and a further $1 million for the NSW Telco Authority. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is meanwhile contributing up to $38 million of its own funds to the program, for a joint total of up to $48 million.
The work being undertaken in NSW will test practical solutions to improve connectivity and includes projects like addressing coverage gaps on key transport corridors by investing in new infrastructure such as small cell sites, macro cell towers and ‘cell on wheels’ solutions. The funding will:
• provide coverage in remote roadside rest areas;
• provide new mobile connectivity along roads linking First Nations communities to their closest town to access essential services;
• improve blackspot coverage on significant transport corridors; and
• provide continuous coverage along key tourist routes.
The program will strongly encourage multi-carrier solutions, including operators using the same mobile towers to avoid duplication of infrastructure. The NSW Government is now seeking expressions of interest from industry partners to deliver the program.
COMMS CONNECT HEADING BACK TO CHRISTCHURCH IN 2025
Comms Connect NZ 2025, to be held at the Te Pae convention centre in the heart of Christchurch on 4–5 June 2025, has launched with strong early support from exhibitors and sponsors, with more than 60% of the expanded expo floorplan already booked.
The event has five Gold Sponsors locked in, more than any other previous Comms Connect, with Tait Communications, Zetron, Complete-Coms, Cable Ways and Broadtech now confirmed.
The exhibition has a maximum of 50 stands available with 26 already booked, including all but one of the larger stands.
The call for papers for the two-day conference program will be out in January, with a closing date of 7 March.
The 2024 edition of Comms Connect NZ attracted over 600 visitors, featuring 45 exhibitor and sponsors alongside 40 local and international expert conference speakers. For more information on exhibitor and sponsor opportunities, contact events@comms-connect.com.au.
DRONES TO MONITOR WA ENERGY NETWORK THIS SUMMER
Utility company Western Power is looking to expand its use of drone technology, with its arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) set to play a critical role in monitoring network faults and maintaining reliability this summer.
Western Power’s network in WA is among the largest in Australia, with several rural distribution feeders that are more than 100 km in length and pass through areas of bushfire risk. Drone technology already plays a significant role for the network operator, with 24 UAVs used for asset inspections, patrols, powerline stringing, fault finding and reporting.
Now, through a series of new trials, Western Power is exploring whether UAVs can be used to:
• remotely apply silicone to live insulators to reduce the risk of pole top fires;
• map powerlines to accelerate decisionmaking; and
• install attachments to powerlines to deter wildlife and increase visibility.
Investigations into whether UAVs could also be used for other purposes, including
to monitor site security or to install sensors that can monitor the real-time capacity of overhead power transmission lines, are also underway. UAVs will be of particular importance over the summer months, the WA Government said, as drone monitoring is quicker than vehicle or foot patrols in reducing the duration of power outages.
“Having sweltered through recordbreaking heat last summer, I’m glad to see Western Power is on the front foot in investigating whether these drones could be
used to reduce the risk of fires or faults and ensure power supply in our state’s south-west is as reliable as possible,” said WA Energy Minister Reece Whitby.
The drone technology complements Western Power’s annual $1 billion network investment, which covers regular insulator replacement and treatment, as well as vegetation pruning near wires.
“Our network is large and complicated, and these investments will ensure we can make it as reliable as possible,” Whitby said.
Industry Talking
Can you believe it’s 2025? I hope all our members enjoyed the festive season.
The first thing you need to do this year is head to the ARCIA events page, https://arcia.org. au/events/.
For the first time, ARCIA will be holding a Sundowner event in Hobart on 20 February. It’s great to welcome Tasmanians to our event calendar; with a long history in radio communications it may have been a small market, but it has always been vibrant, and we are delighted to host an event on the Apple Isle. If you are in any way connected to the wireless communications industry, please reach out and join in.
ARCIA will also be holding a mixture of workshop, conference and networking events in Perth on 2–3 April, Sydney on 28–29 May, Brisbane on 23–24 July, Adelaide on 11 September, and finally the annual gala dinner in Melbourne on 15 October. There are also many other Sundowners, training and other events happening, so make the most of them.
This will be the biggest annual program that ARCIA has ever undertaken, and Paul Davis will be looking for new and interesting content to include. Please reach out to the CEO if you have any ideas or content you would like to share, or if there are topics you would like to know more about; ask and we will try to find suitable conference presentations to suit. It’s been over 10 years since I started writing these articles and if I read them back, we see the same themes over and over again. LMR is dying and will be replaced by 4G, natural disasters and subsequent ‘what went wrong’ recommendations, skills shortages, ACMA spectrum regulation changes and what seems like government inaction on Public Safety Mobile Broadband. As an organisation representing your interests, ARCIA has always tried to be involved and present independent responses in a transparent format; your voice has been heard.
With the benefit of hindsight, it feels like the situation for our industry is becoming clearer. The need for critical communications is growing in all sectors, the role of new IP-connected network topologies is now common, and manufacturers are investing in new products. The LMR market itself is predicted to grow across the globe to 2030. The industry is also seeing the adaption of many new and advanced systems to help users communicate over multiple networks with hybrid devices and systems. Over 2025 it will be interesting to observe phone direct-to-satellite technology in action and the potential for change that this provides. Governments are working with many critical industries, especially on the cybersecurity front, and we observe a lot of hard work going into Public Safety Mobile Broadband.
On the skills shortage, post COVID this is now across all sectors. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates the Australian population will cross over 30 million sometime in 2030. Our industry needs to invest in training if we are going to meet the growing demands of the market, the complexity of the systems we provide and aging of the existing technical workforce. ARCIA is working to further the skills of our membership; approximately 200 members took advantage of these courses in 2024 and we hope to see many more over this year.
As always, our gala dinner last year in Melbourne was a significant event, and it gave me great pleasure to confer life membership on Geoff Spring. Geoff has been a long-time advocate for better public safety communications through his working life and more lately at The University of Melbourne, as well as a huge contributor to ARCIA working groups. Finally, the committee will be gathering in Sydney for our annual planning day in February to set the agenda for the year. We are very fortunate that committee members can make time available to participate in this important day.
Hamish Duff President, Australian Radio Communications Industry Association.
Tri-radio module
u-blox’s MAYA-W4 is a tri-radio module that delivers the latest in wireless connectivity technologies for the mass market. With support for dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth Low Energy 5.4 and 802.15.4 (for Thread supporting Matter), the module can be used for IoT applications in diverse industries, enhancing device connectivity and interoperability.
Combining three critical wireless technologies into a compact, power-efficient module, the versatile device meets the growing demand for secure connectivity. Whether enabling low-energy mesh networks for smart homes or providing highspeed Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for industrial tools, it offers high levels of flexibility for developers and manufacturers. Its small size and robust design make it suitable for space-constrained applications, while its comprehensive global certifications enable seamless deployment across regions.
The module addresses the market’s need for Wi-Fi 6 solutions, driven by the rapid adoption of Wi-Fi 6 in IoT segments. It alleviates network congestion, enhances power efficiency and, with a temperature range of -40 to +85°C, is suitable for industrial environments. With its entry-level feature set and optimised data throughput, the module offers efficient connectivity without compromising performance. The inclusion of 802.15.4 enables low-power IoT and mesh networking, providing a gateway for the next generation of smart, connected devices.
The module also eases design efforts, enabling manufacturers to scale their device designs for current and future markets. Offering a selection of antenna variants, designers can choose between pin(s) out, embedded antenna or U.FL. connector(s) configuration. By maintaining the same compact dimensions as its predecessors (10 x 14 x 1.9 mm), migration across previous generations is simplified. u-blox Singapore Pte Ltd www.u-blox.com
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN
IMPROVING AUSTRALIA’S NETWO RK RESILIENCE
One year on from the infamous Optus outage, Communications Alliance — the peak body of the telecommunications industry — announced that significant progress had been made in improving Australia’s network resilience and emergency connectivity.
As noted by Comms Alliance CEO Luke Coleman, “Secure and resilient critical infrastructure is central to Comms Alliance’s work, and our sector has banded together to make significant improvements to the resilience of telecoms networks and connectivity during emergencies.” Indeed, Comms Alliance and Australia’s telcos have actively responded to the recommendations of the post-incident review report led by
former Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Deputy Chair Richard Bean. Recommendations 3 and 4 of the Bean Review called for regular testing of the Triple Zero ecosystem, including networks, devices and interoperability across the ecosystem. In light of this, Coleman said, “Comms Alliance has led a working committee from across the industry to develop a new industry code and technical guideline for device testing, to ensure that handsets are capable of mak-
ing calls to Triple Zero both on their usual network and also when ‘camping on’ to a different network if their usual network is hit by an outage.”
Following the development of testing arrangements by the UTS Tech Lab, Comms Alliance will finalise and submit the code to the regulator in early 2025. Comms Alliance is also establishing a new industry working group charged with operationalising the testing system on an ongoing basis.
To further improve the technical capabilities of networks during emergencies, Comms Alliance is leading industry collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other departments on the National Messaging System (NMS). The NMS will allow emergency services to send targeted warning messages to mobile phones using emergency cell broadcast technology, enabling agencies to securely provide information about emergencies like natural disasters or security threats in a given location directly to mobiles.
A third initiative led by Comms Alliance is updating the Australian Standard for mobile devices to ensure they meet new technical requirements for emergency calls (AS/ CA S042). As one of just five accredited Standards Development Organisations in Australia, Comms Alliance leads a working committee to update the Standard so mobile device companies can test and certify customer equipment for the Australian market. Adherence to this Standard is also enforced by the ACMA.
Comms Alliance is also leading the industry’s response to recommendation 16 of the Bean Review, which places new requirements on telcos for remote access to network management tools in the event of an outage. Comms Alliance will bring this recommendation to life via updates to the Emergency Call Service Requirements Industry Code (C536:2020), as well as developing a new technical guideline for telcos on network management for emergency calls, anticipated to be complete early in 2025. Like all of the organisation’s codes, the Emergency Call Service Requirements Industry Code is registered with, and enforced by, the ACMA.
Report calls for further action
Comms Alliance’s updates were announced just weeks after the release of a new report from The Australian National University (ANU), which found that Australia is taking proactive steps to enhance the resilience of its telecommunications sector but further action is needed.
Australia’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts tasked ANU’s Tech Policy Design Centre (TPDC) with independently mapping the Australian telecommunications sector in order to better understand the risk landscape and whole-of-sector resilience. It has previously been difficult to assess the resilience of the sector due to different approaches by individual enterprises and levels
WHILE BASIC RESILIENCE MEASURES ARE IN PLACE, FURTHER ACTION IS NEEDED TO ENHANCE COORDINATION AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION ACROSS THE SECTOR.
of government, as well as a lack of a shared understanding of what resilience involves.
The resulting report, Australian Telecommunications Sector Resilience Profile, is claimed to be a world first — combining risk and resilience, taking an all-hazards approach and adopting a sector-wide perspective. It also develops a sector resilience maturity model — a new analytical framework for assessing sector resilience at the national level.
At the time of the report’s release, TPDC had assessed the maturity level of the Australian telecommunications sector as ‘developing’; level two on a five-point scale. This indicates that while basic resilience measures are in place, further action is needed to enhance coordination and resource allocation across the sector.
“Resilience is a hot topic, but as a methodology, it is comparatively new,” said Professor Johanna Weaver, Founding Director of the TPDC. “It’s not surprising, therefore, that resilience in the Australian telecommunications sector is still developing.
“Our research shows that Australia is starting from a good foundation and, importantly, there is strong appetite from all stakeholders — in government, industry and civil society — to do better.
“I commend the government for commissioning this work. It’s only by understanding the current state that progress can be measured. This report is an invitation and a roadmap to enhance the resilience of the
telecommunications sector on which all Australians depend every day.”
The report was refined, shaped and endorsed by a 26-member Risk and Resilience Expert Panel consisting of diverse practitioners with backgrounds in engineering, network architecture, climate change research, government, enterprise and strategic policy. Its findings are a product of extensive consultations with more than 200 stakeholders representing all states, territories and the federal government, plus representatives from industry, consumer groups, and dependent and interdependent sectors.
The report lays the groundwork for deepening collaborative efforts to enhance Australia’s ability to withstand and recover from inevitable disruptions, providing a benchmark and essential evidence base for decision-makers, industry, government and the technical community. Furthermore, while the methodology was developed to profile the telecommunications sector, it is translatable to other critical sectors.
“The release of this report marks a significant step forward in enhancing the resilience of Australia’s telecommunications sector,” Weaver said. “It highlights not just the challenges, but also the tremendous opportunities we have to build a more robust and reliable network for all Australians.”
The full report, as well as its key findings, can be viewed at https://techpolicydesign.au/ telecommunications_sector.
Swedish hospital enhances connectivity with Maven Wireless
Hospitals rely on seamless communication networks for efficient operations and patient care. Recognising this need, a hospital in Sweden, covering 20 clinics and employing over 3200 healthcare professionals, recently upgraded its cellular infrastructure. This initiative aimed to support growing demands for patient care, streamline emergency communications and ensure operational efficiency.
Although the hospital’s legacy systems worked adequately, its cellular network was outdated, relying on off-air repeaters and limited frequency bands. These constraints hindered efficient communication, affecting the speed and reliability of internal and external connectivity.
The hospital required a scalable, future-ready communication solution that could support current and upcoming telecom standards. Essential requirements included compatibility with multiple frequency bands, multi-operator use, and compliance with EU cybersecurity standards, such as NIS2 and RCE. Additionally, the hospital needed integration with public safety networks, like SWEN/RAKEL G2, and sought future 5G support without replacing its existing infrastructure. Balancing backward compatibility with future upgrades was crucial, requiring a flexible, high-performance solution.
Maven Wireless, together with its partner MIC Nordic, addressed these challenges by providing a high-power digital distributed antenna system (DAS) to replace the hospital’s outdated components. Maven’s DAS integrates seamlessly with the hospital’s passive infrastructure, preserving legacy systems that remain effective while optimising resources. Equipped with advanced Quadband Remote Units, the DAS supports a wide range of frequency bands, improving data throughput and enabling continuous multi-operator service.
With its compact, fanless design, the DAS suits healthcare premises where quiet, unobtrusive equipment is essential. The system is also designed for remote commissioning and reconfiguration, allowing easy adjustments as the hospital’s needs evolve, minimising the need for onsite interventions and reducing operational disruptions.
Maven Wireless’s DAS now serves as a platform that supports both public safety and 5G services. It integrates TETRA and cellular bands, as well as both FDD and TDD on the same remote unit, for versatile coverage. This adaptability keeps the hospital’s communications infrastructure effective and prepared for future upgrades, minimising the need for frequent equipment changes. The system’s redundancy features, including multiple headend units and flexible fibre configurations, mean the network remains resilient under all conditions. This level of redundancy is critical in health care, where communication failures can have serious consequences.
In addition to meeting performance requirements, Maven’s DAS is energy efficient, with low power consumption that reduces operational costs compared to traditional systems. This feature aligns with the hospital’s sustainability goals, offering long-term savings through reduced power use.
To maintain high service standards, Maven’s Network Management System (NMS) provides real-time monitoring, troubleshooting and optimisation across the hospital’s network. The NMS offers continuous oversight, enabling proactive issue resolution. Automated processes provide uninterrupted service, keeping all components synchronised and operational. In a healthcare environment, where patient care is paramount, swift responses to network issues are invaluable, allowing staff to focus on patient needs without communication disruptions.
With Maven Wireless’s high-power digital DAS, the hospital has strengthened its communication infrastructure, achieving futureproof connectivity essential for high-quality health care and rapid emergency responses while ensuring operational efficiency. The upgrade thus exemplifies the transformative impact of investing in robust communication solutions, providing immediate and lasting benefits for staff and patients.
Maven Wireless Sweden AB www.mavenwireless.com
The mining industry has long been a cornerstone of Australia’s and the global economy, generating over $500 billion worldwide annually and contributing 13.6% of total GDP to Australia’s economy in 2023. However, the mining industry faces growing challenges: demands for higher productivity, stringent safety and environmental management regulations, and cost pressures.
While the industry tends to be fairly conservative when it comes to adopting new technologies, several forces are working to accelerate innovation:
• Safety imperatives: Modern technologies reduce workplace hazards for works and help towards the safe management of the environment, a critical need in an industry historically fraught with risks.
• Cost and sustainability pressures: With Australia having committed to reduce the impacts of climate change and reaching net zero emissions by 2050, regulatory demands and environmental concerns are push mining firms to find solutions that help reduce emissions and improve efficiency.
• Productivity demands: Autonomous and remotely controlled equipment offers mining companies a clear return on investment. Connected assets can streamline operations, boosting output from existing mines.
The case for 5G networks
The concept of the smart mine is transforming the mining landscape, leveraging data, automation and advanced technologies to achieve unprecedented efficiencies. Ericsson’s private 5G networks deliver a robust platform for smart mines, tailored for the industry’s unique requirements. Unlike Wi-Fi or older communication technologies, private 5G offers high bandwidth, ultralow latency, and end-to-end security with a lower cost of infrastructure per km 2 and deterministic capability to allow critical and non-critical applications to share the one network at the same time. At the heart of this revolution lies ubiquitous mobile connectivity. These networks enable a wide range of applications critical to smart mining:
TRANSFORMING MINING WITH 5G CONNECTIVITY
• Autonomous vehicles: Seamlessly operate loaders, haulers, drill rigs and other machinery with precision.
• Connected workers: Enhance safety and productivity with smart wearables and real-time access to data for decisionmaking.
• Predictive maintenance: Use IoT sensors to feed digital twins and AI to anticipate equipment failures, reducing downtime.
• Environmental monitoring: Track emissions and minimise ecological impact in real time.
Real-world success stories
Several mining leaders globally are leveraging 4G connectivity ecosystems today, making them ready for the 5G-demand applications of the future:
• Boliden Aitik Mine (Sweden): By automating drill rig operations, the mine achieved a significant cost reduction, with plans for the rollout of fully automated, remote-controlled trucks for smoother transport flow and lowering emissions.
• Newmont Mining (Australia and Papua New Guinea): Private LTE and 5G net-
works empower digital transformation, allow effective use of remote-control technologies and improve operational efficiency and safety.
The Mining 4.0 opportunity
Ericsson’s private networks lay the foundation for Mining 4.0 — a new era defined by automation, sustainability and enhanced productivity. For a fully autonomous, remotely controlled smart mine, high-performance communications are needed.
When it comes to underground mines, a secure, flexible and futureproof private 5G network is essential to ensure that mine controllers can utilise their fleets where and when needed without concern for capacity and reliability. Worker locations and safety can be monitored from the surface, and arrays of sensors can be used to allow geotechnical and seismic monitoring of drives through digital twins without placing engineers in harm’s way. Another big benefit is that 5G can be deployed using lower frequency options than the equivalent Wi-Fi and a range of distribution technologies can provide both a low
Ian Ross, Head of Private Cellular Networks ANZ for Enterprise Wireless Solutions at Ericsson
IoT module
price per km covered, as well as potential for much higher, deterministic data rates than other technology options. For open-pit mining, private cellular networks provide strong coverage, high throughput and low latency over extended distances to connect fleets, enable improved remote control, or facilitate greater use of autonomous and semi-autonomous mining machines. Private networks also benefit open-pit mines with a suite of connected devices such as smart PPE, data loggers, AR/VR wearables, computer vision, geotechnical monitors and process control systems.
A call to action for mining executives
Like power and water, pervasive and dependable wireless connectivity is now an essential utility in mining. Mining executives must prioritise connectivity as the linchpin of their digital transformation, productivity improvement and workplace safety strategies. Private 5G solutions should not just be about technology — they should be about creating safer, more sustainable and financially viable mining operations that can be easily maintained and operated with existing technology teams.
The road to the smart mine is clear. It’s time to move beyond the challenges of today and embrace the technologies that will define the future of mining.
STMicroelectronics has introduced the first product in its strategic collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies to simplify development of next-generation wireless solutions for industrial and consumer IoT applications. The collaboration will deliver IoT modules leveraging ST’s powerful STM32 ecosystem and Qualcomm’s wireless connectivity solutions.
The first of these modules, the ST67W611M1, contains a Qualcomm QCC743 multiprotocol connectivity system-on-a-chip (SoC) pre-loaded with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 qualified and Thread combo, making it easy to integrate with any STM32 microcontroller (MCU) or microprocessor (MPU). The module will support Matter protocol over Wi-Fi for futureproof connectivity, making the STM32 portfolio seamlessly accessible to the Matter ecosystem. Aiding the system integration, the module also contains 4 MB Flash for code and data storage, and a 40 MHz crystal. There is also an integrated PCB antenna or micro RF (uFL) connector for an external antenna.
Advanced hardware security is built in, with hardware cryptographic accelerators as well as services including secure boot and secure debug, reaching PSA Certified Level 1 protection. The module is self-contained and pre-certified according to mandatory specifications, requiring no RF design expertise from the user to create a working solution. Highly integrated in a 32-lead LGA package, it is ready to place on the board and permits simple, low-cost PCB designs with as few as two layers.
The module leverages the STM32 ecosystem, which contains over 4000 commercial part numbers, powerful STM32Cube tools and software, and enhancements that boost edge AI development. AI enhancements include the recently introduced STM32N6 MCUs, which contain ST’s Neural-ART Accelerator, and the ST Edge AI Suite that provides an AI Model Zoo and STM32Cube.AI and NanoEdge AI optimisation tools.
The modules are designed to be quickly and seamlessly integrated with any STM32 MCU or STM32 MPU, offering flexible options for performance, price and power across a broad spectrum. The MCUs available range from cost- and power-sensitive devices containing the Arm Cortex-M0+ core to devices containing high performing cores such as Cortex-M4 and Cortex-A7 in the STM32MP1/2 MPUs. STMicroelectronics Pty Ltd www.st.com
iStock.com/senkaya
RF site monitoring tool
RFI Technology Solutions’ Site Vantage is transforming RF site fault and performance management with a comprehensive solution designed to cut operational costs while maintaining maximum network availability. Combining cutting-edge hardware and software, it covers a wide broadband frequency range of 132 to 960 MHz, offers onboard I/Os and features an enhanced graphical user interface. This gives network operators complete visibility into site performance, enabling them to make informed, data-driven maintenance decisions. By automating routine preventative health checks and tests, the product reduces the need for manual labour and minimises downtime. Its advanced capabilities mean fewer technician visits, resulting in cost savings. Additionally, its broadband functionality simplifies management of multiband networks, cutting expenses further by requiring less hardware.
Security is another key advantage. The tool supports HTTPS and SNMP v3 protocols, providing secure communication and protecting critical network data from potential cyberthreats. Its open API allows easy integration with other monitoring and data analytics systems, enhancing the platform’s flexibility.
With real-time, non-intrusive monitoring of critical RF metrics such as forward and reflected Tx power, antenna isolation, Tx filter noise suppression, Rx system carrier rejection and Rx RSSI levels across 80 or more channels, operators can detect and resolve issues remotely and promptly. This reduces downtime and enables smooth network operation.
For network operators aiming to reduce costs, boost efficiency, maximise network availability and strengthen security, the system offers a complete solution.
RFI Technology Solutions www.rfi.com.au
3-in-1 combo antenna
Microwave converter
Rohde & Schwarz has launched the R&S CS-MC53 microwave converter, a high-performance frequency extension for measuring 5G signals and microwave and satellite links in the millimetre wave (mmWave) frequency range. Its ultracompact design and weatherproof housing benefits users by making it easy to install next to the antenna, minimising cable losses and enabling high sensitivity.
The product extends the frequency range of the R&S EM200 digital compact receiver, the R&S UMS400 universal monitoring system and the R&S ESMW ultra-wideband monitoring receiver from 17 to 53 GHz. It provides up to 500 MHz real-time bandwidth and can easily be installed in remote-controlled fixed and transportable monitoring stations, as well as on top of rotatable masts in mobile monitoring stations.
The product’s ability to measure and monitor satellite signals and point-to-point radio links means that users can now measure and monitor the upper frequency range of the 5G frequency range 2, which was previously not possible. This capability enables users to better understand and optimise their 5G network performance, which should lead to improved quality of service and reduced costs.
The product provides plug-and-play capability with supported Rohde & Schwarz monitoring receivers via a serial RS-485 link and is fully controlled by the receiver. It is powered via the AUX connection to the receiver for operation with the R&S UMS400 and R&S ESMW, or via an external DC power supply for operation with the R&S EM200. Rohde & Schwarz (Australia) Pty Ltd www.rohde-schwarz.com.au
Quectel Wireless Solutions’ YEMD302L1A is a versatile 3-in-1 combo antenna engineered for optimal connectivity, offering flexible mounting options with magnetic, adhesive or screw mounts. Suitable for use cases in public safety, high-definition video streaming, smart cities, utilities, fleet management and automotive vehicle tracking, the device comprises one 4G antenna, one Wi-Fi antenna and one GNSS L1 antenna.
The high-performance antenna supports a broad frequency range for 4G coverage, including 700–960 and 1710–2690 MHz bands. The Wi-Fi frequency coverage meanwhile includes 2400–2500, 5150–5850 and 5925–7125 MHz, demonstrating the antenna’s compatibility with the latest Wi-Fi standards up to Wi-Fi 7; this results in fast data transfer rates and a stable connection. For precise navigation, the 1565–1606 MHz GNSS frequency band supports multiple satellite positioning systems, including GPS, BeiDou and GLONASS, for consistent positioning across various platforms. The product meets various international certification standards, including REACH, RoHS, POPs and CE. It features a flame retardancy rating of UL 94 V-0 and a UV resistance rating of UL 746c f1, with a durable housing design that provides an IP67 waterproof rating. Quectel
www.quectel.com
WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSION NEW RECORD SET FOR
A new world record in wireless data transmission, promising faster wireless communication, has been set by researchers at University College London (UCL).
As detailed in the Journal of Lightwave Technology , the researchers successfully sent data over the air at a speed of 938 Gbps over a record frequency range of 5–150 GHz. This speed is up to 9380 times faster than the best average 5G download speed in the UK, which is currently 100 Mbps or over. The total bandwidth of 145 GHz is more than five times higher than the previous wireless transmission world record.
Optical fibre, which forms the backbone of modern communications networks, transmits data over long distances, between continents and from data centres to people’s homes. But while optical fibre has made big advances in bandwidth and speed in recent years, these gains are limited without similar advances in the wireless technology that transmits information the final few metres to the devices in our homes, workplaces and public spaces around the world.
Typically, wireless networks transmit information using radio waves over a narrow range of frequencies. Current wireless transmission methods, such as Wi-Fi and 5G mobile, predominantly operate at low frequen-
cies below 6 GHz — but congestion in this frequency range has limited the speed of wireless communications. Researchers from UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering overcame this bottleneck by transmitting information through a much wider range of radio frequencies by combining both radio and optical technologies for the first time.
“Current wireless communication systems are struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for high-speed data access, with capacity in the last few metres between the user and the fibre-optic network holding us back,” said Dr Zhixin Liu, senior author of the study.
“Our solution is to use more of the available frequencies to increase bandwidth, while maintaining high signal quality and providing flexibility in accessing different frequency resources. This results in superfast and reliable wireless networks, overcoming the speed bottleneck between user terminals and the internet.”
The researchers’ approach combined advanced electronics, which performs well in the 5–50 GHz range, and a technology called photonics that uses light to gener-
THE BEAUTY OF WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY IS ITS FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF SPACE AND LOCATION.
ate radio information, which performs well in the 50–150 GHz range. They generated high-quality signals by combining electronic digital-to-analog signal generators with lightbased radio signal generators, allowing data to be transmitted across a wide range of frequencies from 5–150 GHz.
“This new system allows for the transmission of large amounts of data at unprecedented speeds, which will be crucial for the future of wireless communications,” Liu said.
The new technology has the potential to revolutionise various sectors, with study author Professor Izzat Darwazeh noting that the beauty of wireless technology is its flexibility in terms of space and location.
“It can be used in scenarios where optical cabling would be challenging, such as in a factory containing complex arrangements of equipment,” said Darwazeh, who is Director of UCL Institute of Communications and Connected Systems.
Meanwhile, mobile phone users could expect faster mobile internet speeds and more stable connections with 5G and later 6G networks powered by this type of system. This would allow more people to use the network in densely populated urban environments or at large event like concerts without experiencing slowdown, or provide the same number of users with much faster speeds.
For example, a two-hour 4K Ultra HD film (around 14 GB of data) would take 19 minutes to download over 5G at 100 Mbps. Using the new technology, it could be downloaded in just 0.12 seconds.
“This work brings wireless technology up to speed with the increased bandwidths and speeds that have been achieved with the radio frequency and optical communications systems within next-generation digital communications infrastructure,” Darwazeh said.
While the technology has only currently been demonstrated in the laboratory, work is underway to produce a prototype system that can be used for commercial testing. If this is successful, the technology will be ready to incorporate into commercial equipment within 3–5 years.
Sepura supports UQ’s Formula SAE-A team
Radio systems provider Sepura was proud to support The University of Queensland (UQ) recently as part of the 2024 Formula SAE Australasia (Formula SAE-A) competition.
Formula SAE involves student teams designing a small Formulastyle race car to be evaluated as a potential product for weekend autocross enthusiasts, with each team’s car judged on design, cost and performance. Competitions have been organised worldwide since 1980, with the Asia–Pacific version of the event held from 5–8 December 2024 at Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway.
Sepura provided the UQ team with specialised motorsport communications equipment, which the students integrated into their car’s design and packaging. This meant the university had two-way communication from the vehicle to the team for the first time, enabling strategic planning and communication during the event.
up to the competition. “It’s crucial to collaborate with students, offering them insights into the radio communications industry and embedding our products into advanced designs for effective communication.”
Sepura provided its compact SC21 handheld device, which was installed in the car and connected to the driver’s helmet, complete with noise-cancelling helmet kits fitted by student engineers. Additionally, the Sepura SC20 device coupled with a specialised headset enabled clear communication between the driver and chief engineer during the competition. Sepura also supplied additional radios throughout the event, facilitating team coordination.
“We are thrilled to support the University of Queensland students by providing equipment to integrate into their car,” said Terence Ledger, Regional Director of APAC, Middle East and Africa for Sepura, in the lead-
By engineering the integration of the TETRA radio and wiring harness into the vehicle, the students showcased their innovation, earning them points in the competition for creativity and implementation. TETRA technology is prominent in top-tier motorsports globally, so exposure to TETRA radios as part of the event proves invaluable for those students hoping to enter the industry.
In 2023, UQ secured a third-place finish against teams from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan. In 2024, the team placed first in both the Cost and Endurance categories for the Electric Vehicle class.
Sepura www.sepura.com
5G and Wi-Fi 7 mobile hotspot
The Sonim H700 is a rugged 5G and Wi-Fi 7 mobile hotspot, available to Australians through Telstra. Featuring the Snapdragon X75 Modem-RF system, the device offers advanced connectivity for professionals, first responders and consumers needing high-speed internet in demanding conditions.
The product combines 5G and Wi-Fi 7 for gigabit speeds and low latency. With support for 5G, 4G and 3G networks, plus external antenna ports, it provides connectivity even in low-coverage areas. It supports up to 34 devices, features a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port and USB 3.1 for tethering, and integrates seamlessly with existing routers, making it useful for streaming 8K, gaming and conferencing.
Engineered to perform in demanding environments, the device meets a subset of Sonim Technologies’ proprietary Rugged Performance Standards (RPS), MIL-STD-810H military specifications and IP68 certifications. The MIL-STD-810H standard indicates resilience against drops, vibrations and other impacts, while the IP68 rating provides protection against water and dust ingress. Sonim’s RPS adds an extra layer of durability by subjecting the device to rigorous use case-scenario tests, including thermal shocks, chemical exposure and pressure resistance. These features make the product suitable for construction and mining sites, emergency field locations, and outdoor activities and businesses. The 6000 mAh removable battery provides extended use and doubles as a power bank. ‘No Battery’ and ‘Battery Conservation’ modes enable uninterrupted operation during outages. The intuitive touchscreen simplifies management of advanced networking features, while automatic power-on with power sensing enables unsupervised connectivity. The IT-friendly solution includes advanced configurations like LAN/DHCP settings, IP passthrough, DNS, firewall, MAC/IP filtering, port forwarding, DMZ and VPN passthrough. Sonim Technologies www.sonimtech.com
AUSTRALIA’S DIGITAL DILEMMAS
IN THE TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS INDUSTRY
From order to delivery, transportation and logistics (T&L) organisations must meet increasingly demanding timelines in the presence of rapid technological disruption. In addition to being on time, focusing on seamless communication — replacing bulky devices with streamlined wearables and handheld devices requiring bespoke applications — is essential.
SOTI’s new research, ‘The Road Ahead: Driving Digital Transformation in T&L’, is based on 1700 online interviews with T&L drivers in 10 different countries. The report reveals that while 98% of Australian T&L workers use mobile technology daily, they lose an average of 16 hours per employee per month due to mobile-device-related downtime. This inefficiency and limited visibility into device-related performance directly impact a company’s bottom line, employee morale and customer satisfaction.
Compared to SOTI’s T&L report from 2021, which highlighted downtime as a top concern for 78% of Australian T&L providers surveyed, the latest research shows a decrease of almost an hour of downtime per month per employee. The size of this decrease indicates that only a small amount of progress has been made over the last three years because tech is not integrated seamlessly.
Lost time and security woes: the real cost of tech issues
Tech issues, including network and connectivity problems, contribute to significant downtime and delivery delays. When something goes wrong, 32% report difficulty in identifying the issue and deciding on the next steps. Compounding this problem, 39% said
drivers lack immediate access to IT support or training apps to resolve mobile device issues while on the road. These statistics highlight a critical gap in support that prolongs downtime and jeopardises timely deliveries and overall operational efficiency.
Device downtime causes stress for nearly half (41%) of workers and 34% said it has caused them to miss their target. Globally, technical issues contribute to missed targets for 32% of workers, loss of preferred routes for 21% and lost bonuses for 17%. Additionally, global results revealed that 29% of delivery drivers admit to speeding to compensate for delays, raising safety concerns.
The inability to troubleshoot issues, combined with a lack of real-time IT support, is intensifying employee stress. While 96% of respondents have tracking technology on their work devices, 58% desire more. Tracking technology is seen as a key opportunity for improvement, with 61% believing it ensures timely deliveries and keeps customers informed. Furthermore, 72% feel more secure knowing high-value goods are tracked, and 73% believe vehicle tracking increases driver safety.
Finally, despite around 69% of employees saying that they feel adequately trained on mobile data security, 53% fear for the safety of their customers’ data should their devices get lost or stolen. Additionally, 54% of employees are concerned about customer data falling into the wrong hands when mobile devices are shared.
“These statistics highlight the pressing need for advanced, remote support tools that can address device and connectivity issues proactively,” said Michael Dyson, VP for Sales, APAC at SOTI. “Implementing device analytics to monitor battery life, app functionality and network connectivity can help resolve problems before they escalate, minimising downtime and enhancing operational efficiency.
“Given the concerns about data security — despite adequate training — it’s clear that integrating secure user logins and robust data protection measures is crucial. These steps will not only ensure timely deliveries but also protect sensitive customer information, fostering greater trust and reliability in the Australian T&L sector.”
Mobile drone platform
Sphere Drones’ HubX mobile drone platform provides a fully integrated, off-grid, turnkey solution for remote operations. Mounted on a 4WD-capable trailer, the system is engineered for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations, enabling seamless drone deployments in rugged and remote areas.
The platform is designed to replace manual processes and improve productivity through its fully automated, BVLOS-ready capabilities. It offers continuous drone operations for fast decisionmaking; mitigates risks by keeping personnel out of hazardous areas; and eliminates inefficiencies such as unnecessary travel across large sites.
The system allows clients to integrate drone infrastructure with flexible deployment options. This should result in 24/7 operations with significant productivity gains, meeting the evolving demands of users in mining, resources construction, emergency services and other industries.
Aptella Pty Ltd www.aptella.com
LiDAR dToF ranging module
Benewake’s TFS20-L is a fully integrated, singlechannel, direct time-of-flight (dToF) ranging mini-module for service robots, consumer drones and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
The single-point LiDAR module features a compact, lightweight design that incorporates a sensitive infraredenhanced, single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensor with a range of up to 20 m for high-precision distance measurement under difficult lighting conditions. Many dToF sensors on robots only detect obstacles on a horizontal plane and are ineffective at detecting obstacles below the horizontal plane.
The product is designed to provide precise measurement data for surfaces with different reflectivity. It offers a sunlight resistance of 15 m at 100 Klux and a reflectivity correction feature. It also utilises a fully integrated SPAD chip solution, a histogram statistical algorithm, and a fast time-to-digital converter (TDC) architecture for stable and efficient operation.
The module supports I2C and UART interfaces and operates on a single 3.3 V power supply with built-in temperature compensation. Its compact size, lightweight design, long-range measurement capabilities and good distance measurement performance under strong ambient light make it suitable for miniature dToF applications.
Mouser Electronics au.mouser.com
Low-profile antenna with no-drill mounting
Panorama Antennas has released the Magnetic Clam — a robust, low-profile antenna that now features a no-drill mounting version.
The L[X]M[X]MM4-7-42[-X] retains all the functionality of the panel-mount Clam — including 4x4 MiMo 4G/5G up to 4x4 MiMo Wi-Fi 6e/7 and L1 or L1/L5 GPS/GNSS — but can be securely mounted either magnetically or using the supplied 3M VHB adhesive pad.
The product is supplied with side-exit, low-loss FR CS30 cables that are UN ECE R118 compliant. With an IP65 and IK10 rating, it is a tough but flexible no-drill solution for demanding use cases, including private 4G/5G networks, vending machines and kiosks, and IoT applications.
The Savox C-C200 is a push-to-talk solution for users of Savox’s Noise-COM 200 headset in defence and law enforcement environments, with a compact form and innovative features that are designed to provide a seamless, safe and secure user experience in all conditions. Compatible with prevalent PMR and tactical radios, the unit combines high audio quality with good usability.
The product features a protected PTT-button design that eliminates incidental activation, for use in high-pressure situations. Its tactile feel and fully accessible PTT button across the entire surface provide easy and intuitive functionality. It is sleek in design while also being robust, and is compact enough to fit easily on all workwear and tool vests. It also features a wide variety of clip-on fixtures, a silent stealth feature and a safe PTT button for added functionality.
Savox Communications www.savox.com
Radio Matters
As I write this, 2024 is coming to an end and it provides a good opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved in RFUANZ, and what challenges await in the New Year.
Firstly, I want to thank our committee who work hard behind the scenes to set our agenda and continue to deliver for the benefit of our members and wider industry. Many of you will know the work that goes on to make any organisation successful and I am humbled to have such a great crew to work with. Thanks also to Trinity Matika, our hardworking administrator who does a great job of efficiently keeping the day-to-day ticking over, as well being a driving force behind our events.
On the subject of events, I would like to welcome Mikaela Robinson to the team as Events Coordinator. Events are a key focus for us this year, and Mikaela has hit the ground running and is already starting to make a difference. She takes over from Desiré Morris, who left us after Comms Connect to take up a great new opportunity.
I also want to thank a few others who have moved on from RFUANZ this year. First, Debby Morgan, our long-suffering administrator of 10 years; her focus, dedication, and memory of what happened before colour television will be hard to match. I would also like to thank those committee members that stood down at the AGM this year, Dale Roberts (who had been on our committee for seven years) and Graham Markson. And a shout-out to Justin Wonderlick, our previous Chairman; Justin has left big boots to fill but remains on the committee which is great. He is joined on the committee by Daniel Miller, who has over 15 years’ experience in network engineering, e-commerce platforms, systems administration and wireless communication.
In the September/October issue I wrote about Comms Connect 2024 in Christchurch, the gala dinner and awards night. While this event is an important one in our calendar, there is much more to RFUANZ. In late October, we held an after-work roadshow in Christchurch where Ian Graham spoke on the topic of his book, Combining Systems for Shared Radio Sites . This was a well-attended event that we look forward to taking to Wellington and Auckland in 2025. Opportunities for our members to get together and share ideas are something we are keen to do more of.
We have engaged regularly with Radio Spectrum Management this year. Our members have a number of concerns, a key one being the fee review. At our meeting in November, we were advised that they expect to consult with industry early in 2025; we reiterated that this was of significant interest to our members, and we look forward to participating in the process. Spectrum is another hot topic — including access to VHF frequencies about 174 MHz and what is happening in the GHz space. What is clear is that RSM have limited resourcing, and it is
important that we work on behalf of our members to help prioritise our issues onto their roadmap.
E-tec, part of Skills Group, continue to offer their NZ Certificate in Customer Premises Systems (Level 4) Wireless Strand course which has students from across the country, both from large and small organisations. We encourage companies bringing people into the industry, or with staff who are ready to further their technical knowledge, to enrol them into this course. It has been a long time since New Zealand has had such a formal qualification in radio communications and this fills a long-felt gap. Like any course, its longevity relies heavily on getting the numbers through so, as an industry, we need to support it. I was fortunate to be able to meet the Skills team at their networking event in November; it was great to connect with representatives from other industries where they have had similar training challenges and hear how they have been able to develop a skilled workforce for the future.
There is no question that our industry is undergoing change. The predicted obsolescence of two-way radio through the proliferation of cellular telephones hasn’t happened, with what many see as a resurgence in recent years through convergent digital technologies. Intertwining traditional RF with data and emerging technologies to deliver costeffective and scalable solutions in both public and private sectors is just another day in the office for many in 2024. Would Guglielmo Marconi even recognise what is happening, I sometimes wonder? 2025 will be another big year for RFUANZ. Thank you to our members and supporters; please feel free to reach out at any time and we are always keen to hear how we can work to add value to our industry.
Soren Low, Chairman, Radio Frequency Users Association of New Zealand.
Military amplifier
Ultralife’s A-2303 is a compact, energy-efficient military amplifier that serves depot support applications. Weighing 540 g and delivering 20 W with ~0.75 to 5 W of RF drive power, it is compatible with low-power personal role radios (PRRs) that are used in military and industrial applications across the globe. The amplifier is also designed for easy integration into existing equipment and is equipped with RS422 (I/O) for remote control and status reporting. With an internal power supply allowing operation from 10–36 VDC and a frequency range of 30–512 MHz, the device is claimed to be the smallest, lightest radio frequency (RF) amplifier available. It features a radio-agnostic design, user-replaceable connectors and an optional auxiliary cooling accessory, to reduce operating temperatures and prolong lifespan in extreme conditions.
Compared to previous models, the A-2303 supports a broader range of input power, making it compatible with smaller, lighter batteries such as the Land Warrior or Conformal batteries manufactured by Ultralife’s Battery and Energy division. It also features improved timing and power efficiency, higher gain and good thermal performance, making it suitable for both dismounted (on the person) and vehicle applications. System engineers and integrators can undertake in-country repair and calibration using documentation, instrumentation and LabVIEW test routines.
Tectonica Australia Pty Ltd www.tectonica.net
Attenuators
The AT0603 Series attenuators, from Kyocera AVX, provide virtually flat loss over a broad frequency spectrum and are suitable where low noise, low inductance and low parasitic capacitance are required.
Thin film metallisation provides stable characteristics over temperature and time, and balanced Pi design provides even current distribution and accurate attenuation characteristics from DC to 20 GHz. The attenuators are suitable for impedance matching, input padding and signal-level tuning. They are available in a standard EIA 0603 case size.
The series is designed to meet a wide range of RF and microwave large- and small-signal applications, including telecommunications, satellite communications, cellular base stations, microwave radio, ISM, RF and microwave power, military and aerospace, and test and measurement. Richardson RFPD www.richardsonrfpd.com
www.emctech.com.au
5G 360° camera for industrial use
Nokia says it has launched the world’s first 5G-enabled 360° camera for industrial usage. The camera is designed for harsh industrial conditions and comes with cybersecure software and built-in security hardware.
Waterproof (IP67) and shock-resistant, the camera provides 8K streaming with low-latency, high-resolution 360° video coupled with spatial audio over 5G, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, enabling versatile usage scenarios and minimising the need for extensive use of traditional cameras at industrial sites and entertainment events. The entry-level Wi-Fi variant offers the full benefits of 8K 360° multimedia streaming, while the Extreme Temperature variant enables product deployment in more demanding environments.
The ability to transmit video and audio over private and public wireless networks enables real-time remote-control usage, enabling users to reduce the risk of accidents and increasing operational efficiency. Coupled with Nokia Real-time eXtended Reality Multimedia (RXRM) software, the camera offers a full end-to-end solution for those seeking real-time remote use cases such as situational awareness, remote monitoring, remote inspection or teleoperation of industrial equipment.
Nokia RXRM provides extensive APIs for customer AI platforms to benefit from 360° video and 3D OZO Audio; users can implement analytics, overlays, extended reality and novel innovations on top of immersive live video. The software’s 360° video and spatial audio are designed to increase the accuracy of what users see through near-instant, ultra-HD content streaming, providing immersive experiences that could redefine the ways in which people work together in industrial context. RXRM customers in different fields are already using the technology for a variety of use cases, delivering on the potential for this technology to make industrial processes safer, faster and more efficient.
Nokia Solutions and Networks Australia Pty Ltd www.nokia.com
OPTIMISING RF CONNECTOR SELECTION TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR SUPERIOR SIGNAL INTEGRITY
Operating across frequencies from a few MHz to several GHz, RF connectors are essential in applications like telecommunications, satellite communications and defence systems. Whether you’re designing a new circuit or upgrading an existing one, connector choice significantly impacts your system’s functionality and durability. Here Federico Sangregorio, EMEA RF Engineer at connector specialist PEI-Genesis, explores the key considerations for effective RF connector selection.
RF connectors are specialised connectors designed to operate at radio frequencies in the multimegahertz range. They are used to connect coaxial cables, which are essential for transmitting signals in various RF applications, including broadcasting, military and medical devices. The primary function of RF connectors is to ensure a secure, low-loss connection between the components in an RF system. But with so many types and variations available, how do you choose the right one?
Frequency range
One of the first considerations when selecting an RF connector is the frequency range of your application. RF connectors are designed to operate effectively within specific frequency ranges.
For applications operating below 1 GHz, such as traditional broadcast radio (FM/ AM), television transmission and some
early-generation cellular networks, the frequency demands are relatively low. In these scenarios, connectors like the Bayonet Neill–Concelman (BNC) and F-type connectors are commonly used.
Moving into higher frequency ranges, such as those used in Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz bands), GPS systems (1.575 and 1.227 GHz) and modern cellular networks (up to 6 GHz), the requirements for connectors become more stringent. SMA (Sub-Miniature version A) connectors are a popular choice for these mid-frequency applications due to their compact size, reliable performance and ability to handle frequencies up to 18 GHz. SMA connectors are commonly used in WiFi routers, cellular base stations and GPS devices, where they provide low insertion loss and high return loss, ensuring that the signal maintains its integrity across the connection.
In high-frequency applications like satellite and 5G communications, which exceed 10 GHz, connectors must meet demanding
requirements. The 2.92 mm (K) and SMP connectors are ideal for these uses, with the 2.92 mm connector supporting up to 40 GHz, making it essential for maintaining signal integrity in microwave systems and satellite communications.
For the most demanding applications, such as millimetre-wave communications, automotive radar and certain scientific instruments, the frequency range can extend above 40 GHz. In these cases, specialised connectors like the 1.85 mm (V connectors) and 1 mm connectors are used. The 1.85 mm connector supports frequencies up to 67 GHz and is often employed in high-frequency testing and measurement systems, where precision and minimal signal degradation are critical.
Choosing a RF connector that matches or exceeds your frequency requirements is essential to maintain signal integrity and minimise losses. A mismatch in the frequency range can lead to signal attenuation, reflection and even complete signal loss.
Power handling
Another crucial factor in selecting RF connectors is power handling, particularly in applications where the system must transmit significant amounts of power. The power rating of an RF connector indicates the maximum amount of power it can safely carry without compromising performance, leading to issues such as overheating, signal distortion or even physical damage to the connector.
In low-power applications, such as consumer wireless devices or small-scale networking equipment, the power requirements
Antenna and cable analyser
are generally modest, often in the range of milliwatts to a few watts. Connectors like the SMA and Micro-Miniature Coaxial (MMCX) are commonly used in these scenarios. The SMA connector, for instance, can typically handle power levels up to 500 W at lower frequencies, making it suitable for many mid-power applications in networking and wireless communications.
On the other hand, high-power applications, such as in radar systems, military communications and large-scale broadcasting, demand connectors that can handle power levels in the kilowatt range. The
7/16 DIN connector is a prime example, specifically designed to handle high-power transmissions with minimal loss and high resistance to passive intermodulation (PIM). These connectors can handle power levels exceeding 5000 W at lower frequencies and are commonly used in broadcast towers, high-power RF amplifiers and base stations for cellular networks.
Environmental considerations
Environmental factors, such as humidity, temperature and exposure to corrosive substances, can significantly impact the performance of RF connectors. For applications in extreme conditions, such as military or aerospace, it’s crucial to select connectors with appropriate environmental sealing and protection. IP-rated connectors, for example, provide ingress protection against dust and water, ensuring reliable performance in challenging environments. Similarly, connectors with Teflon or other specialised insulators can withstand high temperatures, making them suitable for use in engines or other high-heat areas.
Selecting the right RF connector is a nuanced process that requires careful consideration of various factors, including frequency range, power handling and environmental resilience. Each application has its unique requirements, and the ideal connector will be one that balances all these factors to deliver optimal performance.
To find out about the extensive range of RF connectors offered by PEI-Genesis, visit www.peigenesis.com.
The AA-3000 Zoom is RigExpert’s flagship antenna and cable analyser, which covers frequencies from 100 kHz to 3 GHz. Other units available that are aimed at the LMR market include the AA-650 Zoom (650 MHz), AA-1500 Zoom (1500 MHz) and AA-2000 Zoom (2 GHz).
The company says the AA-3000 is the fastest tool on the market to be able to test the performance of an antenna system and save the results for later analysis. With frequency agility, time is saved in that O/S/L calibration is not required but can however be recalled for more accurate results.
Apart from offering return loss and SWR measurements, other built-in features include TDR (simple DTF), Smith charts, and tools for velocity factor and stub tuning. RigExpert also provides free software, AntScope 2, which allows for the remote control and download, analysis and saving of images from any of its antenna analysers.
Electrotest, RigExpert’s distributor for Oceania, offers after-sales support in the form of RF/product training as well as service support for each product.
Electrotest Ltd www.electrotest.co.nz
iStock.com/SergieAkhdov
CASE STUDY
Enhancing broadcast reliability with remote telemetry systems
In the competitive world of commercial radio broadcasting, maintaining uninterrupted service is vital. Sydney’s Harbour Media, a shared facility that hosts three major radio stations — 2KY Broadcasters, owned by Tabcorp; 2GB, owned by Nine Radio; and Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) — faced the challenge of managing continuous operation across multiple transmitter sites.
To address this, Tabcorp, supported by Ovarro’s advanced remote telemetry units (RTUs), has streamlined its operations into a triplexer setup, which means multiple radio frequencies are now managed through a single antenna. Ovarro’s TBox and Kingfisher RTU systems have played a vital role in this project.
Tabcorp’s primary objective was to ensure minimal downtime at its transmitter site. Ovarro’s Kingfisher RTU and TBox systems were selected as part of the project’s telemetry solution due to their ability to monitor critical aspects such as transmitter performance, audio status, antenna switching and environmental conditions — the transmission site experiences frequent lightning storms. Kordia, a telecommunications company, managed the construction of the site, ensuring that all systems were installed and functioning correctly.
The TBox system provides real-time SMS and email alerts to multiple recipients. Technicians at each station can receive alerts specific to their services, with flexibility to modify recipient lists as needed. Meanwhile, Kingfisher RTUs monitor various components of Tabcorp’s network; they track transmitter operations including output power, modulation, alarm statuses and power cutbacks that reduce damage to equipment during storms. The RTUs also monitor the audio interface, program failures, and signal paths between different antennas or cables, as well as overseeing tower lighting.
Avoiding outages
The TBox and Kingfisher RTU systems have become critical to Tabcorp’s operations at the Harbour Media site. The ability to receive rapid alerts and monitor essential components enables continuous service operation, which is crucial in the highly competitive commercial radio environment where outages must be avoided at all costs.
The collaboration between Tabcorp, Ovarro and Kordia has resulted in a robust and highly customisable telemetry solution that enables continuous operation of Sydney’s Harbour Media transmitter site. Through the integration of Ovarro’s TBox and Kingfisher RTU systems, Tabcorp has enhanced its ability to monitor, manage and maintain critical broadcasting infrastructure with minimal downtime.
Both systems have now been in use for over seven years without any issues. The success of this project thus underscores the importance of selecting the right technology and partners to meet the always-on demands of modern radio broadcasting.
“Ovarro’s TBox and Kingfisher RTUs have proven invaluable in maintaining our site’s reliability,” said Glenn Duncan, Radio Support Engineer at Tabcorp. “Their quick alerting and robust monitoring capabilities have significantly minimised downtime and ensured smooth operations for our radio stations.”
Ovarro
ovarro.com/en/australia--new-zealand/home/
FIVE WAYS AI IS RESHAPING TELCO CLOUD NETWORKS
The telecom industry stands at a critical juncture as it navigates the convergence of emerging technology, against a fast-changing business landscape and ever-evolving consumer expectations. Despite these rapid advancements, Australia’s telecoms market is robust and fast-growing, with industry revenues having increased from around $13 billion in 2013 to approximately $32 billion in 2023.
Arecent CSIRO report also shows that 68% of Australian organisations have already implemented AI in some form, and a further 23% plan to do so in the near future. Telco cloud networks, therefore, stand to experience a paradigm shift with the integration of AI, redefining how they operate and deliver services.
Let’s delve into the essential role AI can play in telecom networks and the tangible benefits being realised in telco cloud networks.
1. Driving network performance, efficiency and reliability
AI-driven algorithms analyse vast amounts of data in real time, allowing telecom operators to identify bottlenecks, reduce latency and enhance overall network reliability. AI algorithms can also adapt to network demands, allocating resources efficiently and adjusting configurations in real time. This allows for more agile and responsive networks, capable of meeting the demands of today’s data-intensive applications. AI’s predictive capabilities are also a game changer for telecom networks. By leveraging
machine learning algorithms, operators can predict potential equipment failures before they occur. A report by Ericsson indicates that AI-powered predictive maintenance in networks can reduce critical incidents by up to 35%, significantly improving service reliability. This not only minimises downtime but also contributes to cost savings through optimised maintenance schedules.
2. AI for 5G and 5G for AI
AI is intrinsically embedded in many of 5G’s signal processing tasks, traffic prediction algorithms and self-optimisation routines. With the use of AI, a 5G network can predict traffic patterns and electronically focus its antenna array accordingly, assuring that network resources will be always used effectively. It can also intelligently power off parts of the network equipment to save energy. Advanced scheduling mechanisms and noise cancellation processing tasks are also 5G processes that rely on AI. By combining big data, IoT and AI, disruptive technology advancements start to revolutionise traditional industry verticals.
At Dell Technologies, we see the combination of 5G, AI and data connectivity at the edge as a transformative platform to enable new possibilities for enterprises,
governments and society in general. AI will allow machines and systems to function with intelligence levels like that of humans. 5G will connect sensors and devices at speed while AI simultaneously analyses and learns from data, enabling real-time feedback loops.
3. AI enables intelligent network security
According to the 2023 Dell Technologies Global Data Protection Index, over half (54%) of organisations suffered a cyber attack or incident that prevented access to data in 2023. With the expanded threat landscape, telecom networks are not immune to these emerging cyber challenges. However, AI is proving to be a formidable ally in facing cyberthreats, and telco cloud networks can benefit from AIdriven threat detection, which can identify and neutralise potential security breaches in real time, ensuring the integrity of sensitive data.
4.
Analyses data to deliver personalised customer experiences
AI’s impact extends beyond the infrastructure, enhancing the customer experience. Telcos can leverage AI to analyse customer behaviour, preferences and usage patterns.
Sam Saba, Head of Telco, Asia Pacific & Japan Region, Dell Technologies
THE INTEGRATION OF AI INTO TELCO CLOUD NETWORKS IS NOT A LUXURY BUT A NECESSITY IN TODAY’S HYPER-CONNECTED WORLD.
This data enables the delivery of personalised services and targeted promotions. In a survey by Analysis Mason, about 20% of cloud service provider respondents said they are investing in new services based on data insights derived from AI.
5. Enhances cost savings and revenue generation
AI implementation in telco cloud networks is not just about efficiency; it’s a strategic move for cost savings and revenue generation. A study by McKinsey suggests that AI deployments can reduce energy costs by at least 15% for telecom operators. Additionally, AI-driven analytics can uncover new revenue streams by identifying market trends, pre-
Embedded communication interface
HMS Networks has launched the Anybus CompactCom B40 Mini, a soldered-on communication interface that complements the Anybus CompactCom 40 series. It is suitable for high-volume device makers looking to connect to industrial networks.
The Anybus CompactCom family offers a range of ready-made communication interfaces that can be embedded into any industrial machine or device, enabling connectivity to all major industrial networks. The Anybus CompactCom B40 Mini adds a soldered-on option to the existing line-up of modules and pluggable bricks.
The interface has a compact design (30% smaller than the pluggable brick) that enables it to be soldered directly onto a device’s carrier board, making it suitable for small devices. Delivered in tape-and-reel and ready for automated production through pick-and-place and surface-mount device (SMD) soldering, it is designed for high-volume production.
The product is preloaded with PROFINET, Ethernet/IP, POWERLINK, EtherCAT, Modbus TCP and BACnet Industrial Ethernet networks, or can be delivered pre-set for a specific network. These features enable device manufacturers to simplify product design and production with one design and batch for all protocols, while also optimising stock management and providing end users the flexibility to choose the network in the field.
HMS Industrial Networks hms-networks.com
dicting customer needs and supporting the development of targeted services.
Embracing the AI revolution in telecom networks
The integration of AI into telco cloud networks is not a luxury but a necessity in today’s hyper-connected world. As telecom operators embrace the AI revolution, they position themselves at the forefront of innovation, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the digital era. The journey towards AI-powered telco networks is not just about upgrading infrastructure; it’s about unlocking the full potential of connectivity for a smarter and more efficient future.
Rugged smart PoC radio
From its robust build to its high performance, Inrico’s T330 Rugged Smart PoC Radio has been engineered to meet demanding environments. It supports Android for the latest key industrial apps, streamlining tasks for efficiency and speed, and features a dedicated PTT button, for seamless and continuous communication at all times.
The product’s 5 MP front camera and 13 MP HD rear camera support full-duplex video call and transmit live video to the command centre. Its large, 2.5 W waterresistant speaker delivers a clear and crisp voice even in critical circumstances. A dual-lock system provides battery firmness and airtightness.
The device is equipped with secure screws to support professional earphones, for a polished intercom experience. It has been engineered to meet IP68 and MIL-STD-810H standards.
Inrico Technologies Co Ltd www.inricosolutions.com
Spectrum
Communication interoperability is vital to silo-free public safety comms
As we know, the concept of interoperability is multifaceted. At a basic engineering level, interoperability simply means that all elements of the communication network can communicate with each other. In other words, they are interoperable.
But in many cases, basic interoperability is not enough — more regulations and new policies are often needed to achieve full interoperability between systems and networks.
There are only two ways to achieve interoperability — open standards and gateways. If all communication elements adhere to the same open standard such as 3GPP MCX, for example, it means that all of those elements will communicate with each other directly. If, however, some of the elements are not standards-based, the only way to achieve interoperability is by using a gateway.
On the grand scheme of things, there is nothing wrong with gateways. Gateways provide connectivity between different types of communication technologies, such as PSTN and VoIP or LMR and MCX. Gateways have been around forever and will be around forever. When it comes to public safety operations, gateways are prolific and successful — think of RoIP gateways, for example.
But when an emergency happens, gateways don’t work. Ubiquitous broadband enables each agency to select their own proprietary communication technology, and then spend time and resources to address a specific interoperability use case with the gateway. However, emergencies don’t announce themselves in advance giving you time to prepare. If multiple agencies are responding, they have to be able to communicate, and when their core technologies
differ, they can’t. You simply don’t have time to build gateways if agencies that need to cooperate on an emergency response use different technologies. The only way to be prepared for an emergency is by ensuring that one open, secure, reliable, interoperable communication technology is used by all. And this is why we have MCX.
An adoption of the open standard such as MCX can solve all interoperability issues of public safety communications. Now, the key word in the previous sentence is ‘adoption’. While MCX can solve interoperability issues, it first needs to be adopted by first responders — and that requires a significant effort.
I attended a number of ‘fire chat’ sessions on the subject of mission-critical voice during the recent FirstNet 5x5 event in Chicago. In the sessions, the users and public safety IT folks expressed their concern and frustration with the state of the MCX/MCPTT technology, poring over lots of user requirements that had not been addressed.
I was attending one of such sessions listening to the ‘unaddressed’ user requirements for MCPTT devices, such as the ability to control volume and channels (groups would be a proper MCPTT term), minimal UI, no need for the screen, sturdiness of the device and so on. Then at some point I simply raised my hand
holding the L3Harris XL hybrid (dual-mode) radio, which answers all stated requirements.
It appears that many of the people in the audience — the people who deploy communication technology for first responders — didn’t even know that L3Harris devices are equipped with LTE capabilities and fully standard MCPTT client, and already deployed in the MCX networks.
So, there is hard (but critically necessary!) work required to achieve widespread adoption of MCX technology. And that in turn means that public safety professionals need to be educated on the benefits, value, capabilities and availability of MCX/MCPTT solutions — today, and in the future. Adoption and education should be critical work items for FirstNet — and any other public safety communications service provider.
When multiple agencies are covering the same event or responding to a given incident, all first responders should be able to communicate with each other. This is also called ‘interoperability’ — this is the word used in the US congress hearings, for example – and open standards offer the best and proper way to achieve it. Softil now wishes to take this terminology further and call interagency/first responder communications ‘communication interoperability’.
Anatoli Levine is Director of Products and Standards for Softil Ltd., responsible for developing strategy and product roadmap for Softil’s portfolio of enabling products for developers, including technologies such as Mission-Critical Communications (MCX) over LTE and 5G, WebRTC, VoLTE/ ViLTE/RCS, SIP, IMS and many others. He actively participates in the development of open international communication standards at industry bodies such as 3GPP, ETSI, IETF and other SDOs.
