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HomeIs commercial cellular suitable for mission critical broadband?
Study on use of commercial mobile networks and equipment for "mission-critical" high-speed broadband communications in specific sectors: final report
Publication metadata
The goal of the Study was to examine the potential role that commercial mobile networks – with associated economies of scale for commercial equipment (including handheld devices for end-users) – could play in ensuring the provision of “mission-critical” high-speed broadband communications in the following sectors in Europe 1) Public safety, civil protection and disaster relief (PPDR); 2) Utilities – intelligent energy management systems and smart energy grids; 3) Intelligent transport safety and transport management systems (ITS). The two main options considered were public land mobile networks run by commercial operators and the dedicated networks created specifically for use in these sectors. The Study examined broadband needs of all three sectors. Five scenarios based on different types of deployments were studied: 1) Dedicated networks and dedicated specialised equipment; 2) Commercial mobile networks and commercial equipment; 3) Dedicated networks with commercial networking equipment; 4) Hybrid networks; 5) Common multi-purpose network. The European society depends on mission-critical services. Some of them increasingly require wireless broadband support. High-speed mobile broadband networks are currently deployed in Europe, but mission-critical users have two reservations about relying exclusively on commercial mobile services: 1) Can commercial mobile operators (MNOs) be trusted to provide reliable services under fixed-price contracts over long periods of time? 2) Will MNOs provide the needed level of network availability, resilience, service quality, security and coverage, particularly in emergencies? Commercial mobile broadband networks could be used for mission-critical services with the right legal, regulatory and contractual framework and only if several requirements are fully met. The Study report also outlines measures which could contribute to build the confidence of mission-critical users in the MNOs. The Study concludes that for the medium and long term, sharing commercial MNO infrastructures for both public and mission critical purposes makes economic sense.
- Published:
- Corporate author(s): Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (European Commission) , SCF Associates Ltd
- Personal author(s): Blackman, Colin ; Horvitz, Robert ; Forge, Simon
- Themes: Information technology and telecommunications
- Subject: civil defence , cost-benefit analysis , emergency aid , emergency medical treatment , intelligent transport system , public service , telecommunications , telecommunications industry , transmission network , waveband
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| ISSN | ISBN 978-92-79-38679-4 | DOI 10.2759/54788 | Catalogue number KK-04-14-644-EN-N |
- Released on EU publications website:
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