Updated article: Texas Bigfoot Communications to deploy TETRA network in Texas
The company will install the first TETRA-based network in the Houston area around in the first period of 2016. The network is expected to contain six sites with additional applications that will support the end user in their day-to-day operations.
In our interview with Jeff Scott Cofsky, VP and Chief Technology Officer of Texas Bigfoot today, Cofsky said that the company’s goal is to have 43 sites online within the next five years.
Texas Bigfoot Communications currently runs a seven-site PMR network and the idea is to transition those customers to a new digital TETRA network. With this change, the company will focus on commercial customers as well as large hospitals, college/educational facility, or large campus.
Since the article about the TETRA development, published on the website of RadioResource Media Group, Cofsky has been approached by different companies in that wanted to understand more about the roll out.
When we asked Cofsky if DMR or NXDN could do the job, he answered that these technologies could not do the job because of interference issues in a city like Houston. Besides that, today TETRA networks are easier to build. When past the initial deployment, it is easy to build further and configure remotely. "You can do everything on the Fly", according to Cofsky.
Already back in 1997 Cofsky already was interested in TETRA when Nokia showed up in one of the trade shows with TETRA technology, however prices where very high. "Purchasing a system, at that time, would have cost me a fortune", he comments. "In the meanwhile TETRA technology has become mature and prices of the network and radios have become affordable" he continues.
Cofsky purchased the new TETRA system from Sepura.
One of the next steps for the company is to identify TETRA applications that can be used on the new network such as AVL as well as other applications that can be commercialized.
Texas Bigfoot Communications has over 50+ years of combined experience in the wireless industry and has clients throughout the USA and provide multi-faceted services to them on a turnkey basis with one centralized point of contact and invoicing. The company also has a 5000 sq ft facility that houses a full two way radio repair and restoration facility, with state of the art tools and test gear.
It is expected that Texas Bigfoot will begin marketing the new service in January.
