1. Reflecting on 30 years: How would you describe TCCA’s most significant achievements over the past 30 years?

30 years ago, the critical communications market was fragmented in terms of technology as well as networks. TCCA was formed to drive the standardisation, development and deployment of purpose-built digital technology – TETRA – for critical communications to bring the entire sector to the next level. Now, 30 years later, we can conclude this has been an enormous success. TETRA is a globally deployed harmonised technology with an established multi-vendor interoperable market. The TETRA Interoperability Profile (TIP) creation and related testing and certification process are pioneering examples to the entire telecommunications sector. The key success factor on this has been bringing the entire value chain – industry, public safety operators, users and application providers – together to agree jointly on priorities and the way forward.This has laid the foundation for the path to the next success: enabling stakeholders in mission critical broadband communication to jointly work towards a common global standard under the 3GPP framework regardless of the previous technology used be it TETRA, Tetrapol, P25 or something else. Now, mission critical communication is a recognised and respected vertical and its specific user needs are recognised within the previously exclusively commercially oriented 4G/5G technology development.

2. ASTRID and TCCA: What role ASTRID has played in TCCA’s successes, and how do you see this partnership evolving?

ASTRID as one of the pioneer public safety operators adopting TETRA has been instrumental via significant contributions over the years in TCCA’s Board and Working Groups – in particular related to interoperability testing and certification. ASTRID has already gained unprecedented experience in mobile broadband data services as well as in roaming between commercial mobile networks with the unique Blue Light Mobile service. Now, looking forward ASTRID is particularly well positioned to be a one of the leaders in mission critical broadband in defining new best practices and addressing technical and operational issues as well as new possibilities.

3. Innovations: What technological innovations do you consider to be the most critical milestones in critical communications over the past decades?

TETRA interoperability has been novel in the sector. That enabled introducing TETRA packet data – factually before first packet data service over GSM, positioning services with the first devices with integrated GPS receivers, and many more.

Another significant innovation has been the ability to have secure virtual private networks for agencies within the shared network whilst still enabling them to co-operate when they so choose. This has had an incredibly significant impact on how field operations are now organised and has led even to cross-border communication as shown in the Nordics.

4. Future vision: What challenges and opportunities do you foresee for TCCA in the next ten years?

The next ten years will be overwhelmingly characterised by the roll-out and adoption of mission critical broadband services in nationwide shared networks. With this, mission critical communication is on the path moving from voice-centric to information-centric operation. This opens enormous, but for now uncharted, opportunities. During this period technical challenges related to device-to-device communication as well as satellite connectivity are to be solved – fortunately the standardisation is already progressing well. Mission Critical Services (MCX) certification is now available for MCPTT (Mission Critical Push-to-Talk) and needs to be expanded to comprehensive coverage of MCX capabilities to include data and video. Clearly work related to regulatory and legal matters needs to continue to ensure the technology capabilities can be used in the best way to benefit societies.

5. New technologies: How is TCCA preparing for the integration of 5G, AI, and other emerging technologies in critical communication systems?

In general, our approach to technology is three-fold. Firstly, TCCA jointly with our members participates in 3GPP standardisation to drive sector interest. Secondly TCCA’s Working Groups such as CCBG (Critical Communications Broadband Group) and LRWG (Legal and Regulatory Working Group) actively address topics arising within the membership producing studies and guidelines. Thirdly TCCA’s annual event Critical Communications World – for 2025 taking place in Brussels from 17-19 June, with host operator ASTRID and incorporating the ASTRID User Days – brings together the global community to address known and emerging technologies and topics to form a common position and sufficient market for our requirements to be adopted.