Wondering what LTE-based applications for First Responders look like?

Thanks to mobile broadband with next generation Public Safety LTE networks such as FirstNet, First Responders will be able to access a multitude of new applications designed specifically for assisting them in mission-critical operations. Alcatel-Lucent combined forces with a dozen Connect Program partners to showcase several of these new applications at the recent IWCE 2013 event. The live demonstrations highlighted how mobile broadband solutions enable applications for real-time multimedia collaboration by law enforcement and medical First Responders.

In this video, Fred Scalera, Director of Public Safety from Alcatel-Lucent, talks about the plethora of new applications First Responders will be able to access thanks to LTE and FirstNet.

As Fred Scalera explains, when it comes to LTE and FirstNet, “it’s the power of the network”, and this network is able to support a broad range of new capabilities for First Responders. In law enforcement for example, a LTE network will enable applications for collaborative information sharing along with new capabilities in the field such as facial recognition for enhanced safety. A network connected Multimedia Command Table will allow this information to be easily relayed to responding personnel, as well as other information such as a drawing from the command center of how to safely approach an incident.

For medical responders, mobile broadband with LTE also offers benefits. A LTE network enables live medical monitoring of mass casualties in the field by medical personnel in a hospital. Previously, patients were prioritized by severity, with the most critical victims taking priority in terms of medical monitoring by the limited number of emergency medical personnel on site. The LTE network however, enables remote and local monitoring of not only the most critical patients, but other triage patients too.

David Christophe, Director of Solutions Marketing at Alcatel-Lucent explains in this video how Alcatel-Lucent has “added two significant new capabilities” to its mobile backhaul solution which features IP/MPLS and packet microwave radio. Notably, this includes enhancing the inherent security capabilities in IP/MPLS protocols and routers with new security capabilities that include a firewall to stop unwanted traffic from entering the network and network address translation for privacy.

The Alcatel-Lucent solution also provides Public Safety Agencies the capability to effectively extend the benefits of IP/MPLS further out in backhaul with a new environmentally hardened pole mountable router.  This helps ensure performance for this mission-critical traffic while simplifying operations through a constant set of features and capabilities throughout the network.

These capabilities are particularly important as Agencies extend their backhaul footprint when they eliminate mobile radio coverage gaps and build capacity in preparation for mobile broadband with LTE.