After reviewing the TETRA Association's request for an exemption of more than 18 months, the FCC has granted approval for TETRA-compliant voice and data communications products to be launched in the U.S. This is a highly significant decision and should pave the way for a potential market share race among current TETRA providers.
Thomas Lynch, mobile radio market analyst at IMS Research, states: “This is an important step and an opportunity for those already involved in the TETRA market. With immediate and direct demand, we expect to see an increase in TETRA equipment sales in the coming years.”.
The latest information from IMS Research indicates immediate demand for TETRA solutions in the US market, and we should expect sales figures to exceed previous expectations. This is partly due to TETRA offering a direct solution to the US market, as this technology complies with current narrowband legislation and offers 6.25 kHz efficiency.
However, there are still many hurdles to overcome for TETRA in the US, and it will be some time before the full extent of the technology's success becomes clear. The US public safety market is already satisfied with P25 and other digital technologies like DMR, which have already made inroads into other application areas. Moreover, TETRA has not yet been approved for use in the public safety bands and the 800 MHz channel, where P25 dominates.
“Research into gateway systems may allow for increased TETRA and P25 interoperability beyond simply waiving current restrictions; however, the timeline for this is unclear at this time,” Lynch states. If an interoperability solution is developed, it will undoubtedly inject an interesting new dynamic into the US market, where so many manufacturers are currently relying on the success of P25.
