In 2011, Tetra enjoyed its most successful year yet, in terms of the number of terminals shipped. This is one of the conclusions from the annual Tetra market report published by the analysts IMS Research (recently acquired by IHS).

Identifying a growth of more than 9 per cent over shipments in 2010, IMS Research suggests that the Tetra market is experiencing a bounce-back to almost pre-recession growth levels. However, while it forecasts growth for the next five years, it believes that the 2011 success may be exceptional.

While public safety and security in Europe remains the backbone of the TETRA market, 2011 saw significant developments in the Middle East, Africa, South America and Australasia. “We are seeing more and more success for Tetra in regions traditionally not necessarily considered strongholds of the technology”, comments Deryn Evans, mobile radio market analyst at IMS Research. “The success Tetra has had in the European arena is now being emulated in other markets, where new devices that offer enhanced capabilities including ATEX, covert and TEDS are now gaining traction in the public safety and security markets.”

Furthermore, the strong feature set of Tetra devices is also bringing considerable success outside the public safety market – for example, in the utilities, industy and transport. Evans adds: “2012 is set to be an interesting year for the Tetra market as we see the technology transform its customer base to users considered more in the business critical model rather than mission – although this definition in itself is starting to become clouded.”

IMS Research observes that more and more communications users in industry and the utilities are re-evaluating their needs and are now seeing themselves as mission-critical users too. It believes that the potential for growth in Tetra technology remains strong, because more than 80 per cent of mobile radio users are still on analogue.

• deryn.evans@imsresearch.com