Public Safety Blog Series: Trends and Requirements Which Drive the Need for In-Building Public Safety Coverage and Access
Having access to a wireless connection has grown from being desirable, to a more fundamental need. Users expect cellular access within their homes, in a stadium, or when in an airport terminal. But aside from what regular users desire, there is another sector which depends on access to an in-building wireless signal not just for themselves, but to keep individuals safe in the event of an emergency situation. Our first responders and emergency personnel rely on uninterrupted access to communicate in order to provide public safety at all times.
In the event of a crisis, first responders and emergency personnel rely on the ability to communicate via a two-way radio, operating with specific public safety frequencies. Having access to a secure, reliable connection is necessary for not only every room and floor, but in underground parking lots and thick-walled stairwells.
Regulatory bodies and government ordinances have and will continue to implement new standards and requirements for enterprises providing public safety. Ensuring that redundancy be in place for all equipment and fibers in the event that it becomes damaged is necessary. NEMA 4 is a requirement for enclosures, guaranteeing equipment enclosure is water-tight and dust-tight, keeping hazardous elements out. NFPA is another standard in place for protecting against fire and electrical related hazards. Currently, the open standard for digital mobile radio communications in Europe and Asia Pacific is TETRA, while in North America P25 (Phase I & II) is the standard.
LTE is gaining traction with its flexibility and performance capabilities, and some public safety agencies around the world have begun to operate private LTE networks. Operating in spectrum bands previously thought impossible, LTE opens possibilities to new bands such as 400MHz. With the recent integration of live video feeds and high-definition video surveillance being communicated between emergency personnel, providing a broadband connection is becoming inherent. This would create real-time awareness and improve overall effectiveness.
Ensuring that first responders and emergency personnel have the utmost coverage and reliability in place to communicate effectively is more important than ever as in-building wireless traffic continues to grow. FirstNet requirements are expected to be implemented in the near future as a standard for all providers of pubic safety.With these evolving requirements and new technologies, Dali Wireless is on the leading edge with its public safety solution. Being an All-Digital Distributed Antenna System that is scalable and easily integrated, Dali Wireless has the ability to provide outstanding and reliable connections for not only current needs, but adaptability to future requirements as well.
For more information, please register for our upcoming webinar on Public Safety Coverage Today & Impact of LTE, taking place on September 24th, 2015.
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