DRDC Completes Successful Public Safety Broadband Trial

This research trial was funded by the Canadian Safety and Security Program, a federal program led by DRDC and in partnership with Public Safety Canada. During the last several months, community safety agencies throughout the National Capital Region conducted research on this network built specifically to allow greater collaboration among those responsible for community safety and well being.

“Having immediate access to a dedicated mission-critical broadband communications network is one of the biggest game changers in public safety,” said Eric Janus, Operations Manager of the Ottawa Police Service Communications Centre, who participated in the trial. “Land-mobile radio (LMR) has been the established standard for public safety voice communications for years. By supplementing this network with dedicated LTE broadband, first responders will have the ability to share large amounts of data without interruption. This will become a vital part of day-to-day operations."

Throughout the trial, agencies tested the ability to share high-speed data, including video and advanced public safety applications, to provide situational awareness for first responders and the people they protect. For example, the RCMP could share videos of a speeding suspect crossing Provincial lines with both Gatineau and Ottawa Police Services, helping multi-agency coordination and response.

“This LTE trial successfully demonstrated the capabilities of a public safety broadband network and its value to Canada’s first responder communities” said Joe Fournier of DRDC CSS. “Without delay, first responders could access and share large quantities of critical data to provide better response during emergency incidents. This has been an important step to help us chart the course for the future of public safety.”

As part of the trial, two LTE networks were successfully connected, allowing the sharing of information through seamless roaming between public safety and commercial networks.

First responders were equipped with the Motorola Solutions LEX public safety LTE device to share videos and quickly access applications such as maps that show first responder location data. They also used Motorola Solutions’ VML 750 LTE Vehicle Modem which provides a secure Wi-Fi hotspot turning a vehicle into a wireless hub for up to 30 first responders.

“Motorola Solutions is pleased to participate with DRDC CSS on this trial of a mission-critical LTE network,” said George Krausz, Motorola Solutions Canada President. “They have been using today’s cutting-edge data applications, devices and technologies to access the critical information they need, the moment they need it.”

“Public safety users must always be able to trust their communications tools,” said Graham Osborne, President of Ericsson Canada. “Ericsson is thrilled to help the Canadian Safety and Security Program validate critical concepts such as network interoperability, session persistency and self organizing networks with a live public safety LTE network in the nation’s capital.”