Phil Kidner, chief executive of the TETRA Association, outlines the organization’s role in developing, promoting and protecting critical communications for all professional users

TETRA is an open telecommunications standard developed by ETSI. The main purpose behind the standard was to define a series of open interfaces, as well as services and facilities, in sufficient detail to enable independent manufacturers to develop interoperable infrastructure and terminal products that would meet the needs of private mobile radio (PMR) user organizations.

The initial responsibility of ETSI Project TETRA – now known as ETSI Technical Committee (TC) TETRA – was to deliver a set of standards, under a mandate from the European Commission, for a digital trunked PMR communications system that could be deployed in Western Europe.

As well as producing these mandatory ETSI deliverables (now completed), TC TETRA’s responsibility was, and still is, to make sure that the portfolio of standards continues to be developed in accordance with users’ needs and priorities.
Although the prime responsibility of ETSI is to develop standards for Europe, many are adopted worldwide – as evidenced by the uptake of GSM, the first wireless technology standard to be developed by ETSI. Similarly, TETRA has been deployed across the world and is now a truly global standard.

Confidence and choice

There is no doubt that a proprietary technology solution can be brought to market faster than one conforming to a recognized open standard. However, large user organizations, especially those in the public sector, have recognized that, while some proprietary solutions can meet their needs, the tie-in to a single supplier can have significant disadvantages.

Main advantages and benefits of adopting an open ?standard are:

• a large, harmonized market served by several independent manufacturers and suppliers competing for the same business, resulting in competitively-priced products, services and solutions;
• second source security if existing suppliers exit the market;
• evolution (instead of revolution) of the technology standard, ensuring longevity and a good return on investment for users and suppliers;
• a choice of manufacturers for new products, keeping ?prices down;
• greater choice of products for specialist applications;
• response time and customer service standards maintained through market competition;
• competition-driven innovation.

Meeting the TETRA world

Since TETRA was launched in the late 1990s, TETRA networks have been deployed across the world. The TETRA Association represents the interests of its members by working to develop, enhance and champion TETRA technology, ensuring the delivery of secure, robust and reliable communications now and in the future.

Key to the promotion of TETRA communications across the world is the association’s programme of events. This is designed to take TETRA to its markets and to ensure all who wish to participate can access an event in their country ?or region.

Locations of the events are decided in consultation with TETRA Association member companies. Events are held in both mature and emerging markets, with the conference, seminar and/or workshop content and presentations carefully compiled to ensure relevance to each audience.

Each one-day conference, seminar and/or workshop is usually accompanied by an exhibition area which is available to TETRA Association member companies wishing to promote their products, services and solutions. Visitors to the events benefit from hearing about the latest developments, user case studies from a variety of sectors, and future plans for the technology standard. They can participate in interactive sessions, talk to TETRA users and suppliers from around the world, and take the opportunity to talk to a range of organizations – all brought together in a single venue.

In countries with more than one major commercial centre, such as China, the association will plan to hold consecutive events in different cities, to enable as wide an audience as possible to attend.

This approach is designed to bring TETRA to its existing and potential customers and users in the most cost-effective way possible. Although the association does need to make a charge to exhibitors in order to cover costs, attendance at these events for visitors is free.

Of equal importance is the opportunity for association representatives to hear the views of potential, new and established TETRA users and member companies from around the world, in person.

This year, TETRA Association events will be held in Las Vegas, USA; Mexico City, Mexico; Brasilia, Brazil; Barcelona, Spain; Jakarta, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand; Delhi, India, and Manila in the Philippines. The full event schedule can be found at www.tetra-association.com

World Congress

The TETRA World Congress, held in partnership with IIR, is the major event on the TETRA calendar. For many years the event was held in Europe, but in 2007 the association took steps to ensure that the location of the annual World Congress would reflect the growing global strength of the TETRA market. In 2008, the event was held in Asia for the first time, and its inaugural appearance in Hong Kong proved a great success.
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