The LTE Evolution: Private Mobile Radio Networks

The current private mobile radio (PMR) networks propose rich voice and basic data services on a large cellular network using dedicated digital narrowband PMR standards such as Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), TETRA for Police (TETRAPOL), or Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-Project 25 (APCO P25). Such standards provide user bit rates typically from 4 to 10 kb/s, which are less appropriate to address future PMR services requiring higher throughput, such as mail, secured Web services, video, and image delivery. The promising Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long-term evolution (LTE) solution is a candidate to address such a PMR revolution, considering some specific adaptations to be compliant with certain critical PMR requirements. This article provides an overview of these specific LTE adaptations and evaluates how they remain challenging from a standards perspective.