Northwestern China PPDR Authorities Geared up with Caltta converged Communications Solution

In accordance with the guidelines issued by the Central Government, a professional digital trunking (PDT) system covering all cities and counties in Qinghai province was built to enhance the readiness of the Emergency Management Department and its taskforces. Besides this provincial PDT system, on-site emergency communication system and integrated communication platform were also deployed to fulfill unified dispatch and coordinated operation for both daily routines and rescue.

Challenges

1.Due to the lack of unified, scientific, and standard operation protocols, there were issues of prolonged channel occupancy, random channel preemption, and communication inefficiency. Limited system resources were used inefficiently, causing system congestion and delayed response to emergencies.

2.The adoption of advanced technologies and new products was insufficient. Technologies, such as PDT, LTE, and converged communications had not been sufficiently and effectively implemented.

3.There was no unified multimedia communication platform that effectively integrates various sub systems. As a result, the efficiency of coordinated actions was severely lowered when actual tasks are carried out.

Solution

The heterogenous networking with broadband and narrowband technologies, public and private networks, fixed and mobile system integration was adopted. It fully utilized PDT digital trunking network, private LTE broadband network, public carrier network, mesh Ad Hoc network, and satellite to meet the requirements of voice, image, video, high-speed data transmission, location, and time synchronization services in different scenarios. The converged solution assisted taskforces at all levels in their daily work. It provided emergency communication services for rescue teams, and enabled coordination of PPDR forces and the public. The hybrid and converged network ensured all-region, all-process, and all-weather communication for emergency respondents. The solution fulfilled multi-system convergence, multi-department coordination, and multi-form sharing.

Solution Highlights

The solution makes full use of mature technologies, such as PDT narrowband trunking and LTE broadband trunking. It also combines fixed deployment with mobile deployment. At the same time, the solution utilizes the carrier’s mobile communication infrastructure to leverage its wide coverage and data capacity, and eventually forms an emergent wireless communication network.

✦ Broadband and narrowband convergence: While PDT guarantees all-staff voice call and emergency command, LTE offers on-site real-time video backhaul and visualized command. PDT and LTE converged networking fulfil interworking and unified dispatching.

✦ Public and private synergy: Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC) leverages the wide coverage of carrier networks. The public and private network complement each other, forming a unified system of private call, group call, positioning services, etc.

✦ Fixed and mobile integration: Mobile BTS plays the main role, and fixed BTS complements. The vehicle-mounted mobile PDT station is integrated with the fixed PDT simulcast network for unified dispatching and interworking.

✦ Multi-mode converged radio: PDT+LTE+PoC triple-mode radio can access PDT, private LTE, and public carrier networks, and it fulfils data features through various interfaces such as WiFi, Bluetooth and HDMI.

✦ Unified dispatching platform: The iDS (integrated Dispatch System) integrates private PDT network system, private LTE network system, and PoC system, realizing interworking, seamless command and unified dispatching.

Customer Benefit

The 370MHz PDT communication system, on-site mobile emergency system and PoC system provided reliable wireless communication for the Emergency Management Department of Qinghai Province. These systems were used in a series of road and mining accidents, earthquakes, and cross-department drills. In 2021 the PPDR authorities conducted a comprehensive drill for the earthquake and other major emergency accidents. The drill was carried out between the Department and Ministry, and the communication system realized coverage and interconnection across Ministry, Province, City, and County. Fixed command sites at the Provincial Government, Fire Brigade, Seismological Bureau, and other institutions interconnected to each other and coordinated their actions.