IT-Review

First Motorola 4.9 GHz Broadband Technical Trial Successfully Completed in Tulsa

Solutions to be Available to First Responders in 2005

When the Federal Communications Commission allocated 50 MHz of spectrum in the 4.9 GHz band for public safety first responders in May 2003, the stage was set for the development of mission critical broadband solutions that first responders have long anticipated.

Motorola announced that it has completed the initial phases of a technical trial of the company’s first 4.9 GHz broadband solutions. According to the Motorola project team and public safety agencies in Tulsa, Okla., where the technical trial has been underway since September, the trial has proven the reliability and stability of the system.

As is true with any newly allocated spectrum, actually securing the new spectrum is only the first hurdle to providing first responders with new communications capabilities. The technology challenge is to develop type-accepted hardware and software that will reliably operate in the spectrum, delivering the applications public safety personnel most want.

The Tulsa trial included a network management terminal and two access points. The access points are in suburban locations—one at the City of Tulsa Electronic Maintenance Facility (EMF) and the other at fire station #24. Three vehicular client devices utilizing Motorola’s ML 900 laptop terminals were also included in the trial. The applications tested to date include web browsing, Instant Messaging, email and chat, as well as streaming video.

Source: press release

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