Alcatel-Lucent. Public safety LTE

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Public safety lte A How-to Guide – GLoBAL editioN

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tABLe oF CoNteNtS New capabilities for Public safety / 5 Limitations of First Responder Communications / 6 unprecedented opportunities / 8

the solution: Public safety lte / 11 Partnerships / 11 the utilities Advantage / 16

lte: What it is, What it Does / 19 why Lte / 19 How Lte Meets the Needs of Public Safety / 26

Preparing for lte / 29 Deploying an lte Network / 35 Providing Reliable, Secure Communications / 35

building up the backhaul Network to support lte trafic / 39 supporting Video on the lte Network / 43 effectively Managing Video / 44 Governance of Video Content / 44

evolving Voice support on the lte Network / 47 Supporting Roaming out of Jurisdiction / 49 use of a Commercial wireless Carrier / 50

Rollout strategy / 53 Best practices / 55 invest today to Accelerate Beneits / 58

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New Capabilities for publiC safety

We live in a changing world, where public safety and the owners and operators of critical infrastructure must address new threats and challenges, both natural and man-made. In addition to police, ire and emergency medical services (EMS), utilities and transportation agencies have critical roles to play in emergency response. It’s no longer enough for these irst responders to rely on a push-to-talk (PTT) network for situational awareness. Mobile technology capable of sending and receiving bandwidth-intensive data can help emergency response organizations do their jobs more effectively and safely. These organizations need mobile broadband networks that let them share streaming real-time video, detailed maps and blueprints, high-resolution photographs and other iles that today’s public safety wireless networks can’t handle. The same is true when served by commerical wireless networks during major events or catastrophes. Long Term Evolution (LTE), the new standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals, will satisfy the broadband A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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needs of emergency response organizations. Already deMobile carriers in many countries ployed by many of the world’s now have commercially available Lte largest mobile operators, it networks. the Global mobile Suppliers delivers capacity and speed and Association (GSA) reported in June 2012 simpliies the network archithat 80 Lte operators have launched tecture. commercial services, and another 144 LTE will enable sharing of commercial networks are expected to incident data like never before: be operational by the end of 2012. in real time, securely, and in line Altogether, the GSA found that 327 with the mission-critical needs operators in 99 countries have committed of the 21st century. And it will to commercial Lte network deployments do so in a manner not typically or are engaged in trials, technology possible with third-generation testing or studies. (3G) technologies deployed in today’s commercial networks. Source: http://www.gsacom.com/news/gsa_352.php LTE is a set of standards for radio access networks, which sit between mobile devices – such as cell phones, tablets and laptops – and the core network. As the name implies, LTE encompasses the evolutionary path from today’s networks to tomorrow’s all-IP based, ultra-fast converged networks. It enables real-time video transmission from a ireighter at an incident scene to the emergency operations center, transmission of high-deinition video (some of which may be received through next-generation 112/911 systems), distribution of high-resolution photos and detailed maps to police cars, and much more. LTE gives users the same experience in a mobile setting as on ixed networks in the workplace or home. LTE provides unprecedented capabilities for mobile broadband networks. It has been declared by public safety and communications experts to be the technology of choice for mobile broadband communications for years to come.

limitations of first Responder communications Current Land Mobile Radio (LMR) and Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) networks are limited by their lack of capacity and standardization, which prevents emergency response teams from communicating in an eficient and cost-effective manner. No mission-critical broadband: LMR/PMR networks rely on narrowband systems

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MaJOR Public safety ORGaNiZatiONs eNDORse lte Lte has been endorsed by major public safety organizations as the technology of choice for the public safety broadband network. Proponents include: • Association of Public-Safety Communications oficials (APCo) • tetRA + Critical Communications Association (tCCA) • international Association of Chiefs of Police (iACP) • international Association of Fire Chiefs (iAFC) • united States National Public Safety telecommunications Council (NPStC)

that are optimized for voice. They lack the capacity to support rich, multimedia content, which is needed to improve response and cooperation among emergency response organizations. While some public safety agencies have low-rate wideband data capabilities, most do not. Video and bulk ile transfers are impossible with most public safety mobile data networks, and support for remote access to databases and Internet is limited. Some agencies pay for broadband through commercial providers, which allows them to have access to the Web and e-mail, for example. However, these networks become congested during catastrophes, emergencies or other public safety events, which is exactly when public safety communication is most critical. No interoperability: While efforts are underway to standardize LMR/PMR networks using APCO Project 25 (P25) and TETRA open standards, many LMR/PMR systems rely on outdated proprietary technology and hence do not interoperate. This hampers inter-agency response because LMR/PMR systems used by neighboring cities or counties cannot communicate with each other. The problem is further compounded when a multi-agency or joint public safety and utility response is required. An agency could operate multiple dedicated networks to cater to its voice and data needs, though this would multiply deployment and management costs: each time a change is made to a network there are new costs for equipment, testing, operations and devices.

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unprecedented Opportunities In contrast to existing technologies, LTE provides massive capacity and low latency, ensuring the necessary broadband to support mission-critical applications. It is a standards-based technology which ensures interoperability and cooperation among agencies. As a global mobile technology, it inherently supports roaming. Furthermore, LTE leverages a large competitive ecosystem of equipment, applications and devices made for the private (commercial) sector, which can mean lower development and equipment costs.

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lte beNefits fOR Public safety – aN OVeRVieW Lte is a powerful new technology that will beneit public safety in numerous ways Greater interoperability and enhanced inter-agency cooperation: • Standardized protocols and interfaces • Built-in roaming capabilities • Sophisticated quality of service (QoS) toolbox including priority access mechanisms that authorize and prioritize communication, and provide guaranteed and differentiated QoS applications unprecedented broadband capabilities: • High capacity, allowing a wide variety of applications that rely on rich, multimedia content • Low latency, enabling real-time services (VoiP, video, group calls) • Much faster than 3G, employing advanced technologies cost effective: • Lowers operating costs with a simpliied all-iP architecture • Leverages a rich, open ecosystem from commercial networks • Complements existing narrowband radio networks • Makes private networks more economically feasible High reliability and security: • Supports a geographically redundant iP-based architecture, reducing single points of failure • Supports encryption/ciphering on both control and user planes, enabling secure communications evolution to mission-critical network: • 3GPP is incorporating enhanced functionality to support features required for a mission-critical network in the upcoming release (Release 12) such as:

¬ ProSe (Proximity Services) for direct mode operation (also called talk around) between terminals

¬ enablers for eficient group communications (GCSeL)

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the solutioN: publiC safety lte

An LTE-based broadband data overlay network offers the solution for public safety agencies. The network has high reliability and security, and users can count on optimal performance at all times due to its QoS capabilities. Public safety LTE operates in dedicated bands (400 MHz or 700 MHz spectrum depending on the region/country) and complements the near-term continued use of existing narrow-band LMR/PMR solutions for mission critical voice. Public safety LTE and other critical communications users can also operate in spectrum usually dedicated to commercial LTE systems where authorized by the regulator. This means that, when dealing with a major disaster (e.g., earthquake, loods), the total irst responder team – public safety, utilities, transportation agencies, and defense – have real-time access to video and operational data with a highly interoperable solution to enhance safety and decision-making.

Partnerships In today’s commercial mobile marketplace, operators are spectrum-starved. With hundreds of millions of users, and multiples of that with the emergence of connected A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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Public safety sPectRuM North america in the united States, the Middle Class tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (signed into law on February 22, 2012) provides up to 34 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum for public safety broadband use. • dedicates 20 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum to public safety broadband use, pairing 10 MHz of 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum already licensed to public safety with the 700 MHz d-block for a total of 20 MHz of dedicated broadband spectrum. • Provides public safety with lexibility to use the remaining 14 MHz; that is, the 12 MHz narrowband block plus the 2 MHz guard bands for broadband. Canada is following the united States band plan. asia-Paciic, europe, Middle east and africa in the Asia-Paciic region, the future Asia-Paciic telecommunity (APt) plan provides 2x45 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum. Although this is being discussed in most countries, no country has identiied spectrum for public safety. in europe, the Middle east, and Africa, a irst digital dividend – which refers to the spectrum freed up as a result of the switchover from analog to digital terrestrial tV – has been allocated to commercial wireless operators (with a few exceptions in the Middle east). discussions on a second digital dividend are starting on the basis of providing a sub-set of the APt band plan. it is unknown whether there will be a dedicated spectrum for public safety in this second

devices (for example, “machine-to-machine” communication), operators are desperate for access to new airwaves to help them address the crush of trafic on their networks. Utilities are in a similar situation. Unlike public safety, there is no dedicated allotment of spectrum to address utility needs, either during emergency response (to keep their networks up and running) or for the smart grid (which is critical for enhanced eficiency and security of the utility network).

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digital dividend, which is scheduled as a discussion item at the next world Radiocommunication Conference in 2015. therefore it is unlikely that dedicated 700 MHz spectrum will be made available soon in any country in europe, the Middle east, Africa, or Asia-Paciic. in many of these countries, the 400 MHz frequency band is reserved for private mobile radio users, such as those within emergency services, transportation and utilities. there are opportunities to use some of the spectrum in the 400 MHz band for broadband. Regulatory change is required to allow the use of broadband channels that are scaled down to 1.4 MHz , 3 MHz or 5 MHz for an easier it from within the existing but disparate 400 MHz spectrum slices available today. in a move in this direction, the Spanish regulator recently announced it will free 2x5 MHz of spectrum in the 450-470 MHz band for public protection and disaster relief (PPdR). latin america and the caribbean Most Latin American countries are expected to adopt the Asia-Paciic telecommunity (APt) plan in 700 MHz (Fdd: 45 MHz). Mexico, Colombia, Chile and ecuador have already selected this plan and Argentina, Brazil and others are likely to as well. each country is also analyzing whether spectrum will be dedicated to public safety, or if it will be 100% commercial. Most public safety agencies in Latin America and the Caribbean (and government entities, as is the case in Argentina) are hoping to gain access to at least 2x5 MHz in the 700 MHz spectrum. the 400 MHz spectrum is mainly used for public safety or government entities in Latin America. Brazil already dedicated the 450 to 470 MHz band to a rural project. Mexico has the 380 to 400 MHz band dedicated to public safety.

LTE provides numerous beneits that make it attractive for partnerships between jurisdictions, and between public and private organizations. Experts predict there will be more partnerships as more public safety agencies begin moving forward with deployments. First, there are the inancial beneits. As shown in Figure 1 it is dramatically more cost-effective to build a network as part of a public-private partnership rather than on a standalone basis. Second, the LTE architecture makes partnering attractive

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for a number of reasons, including the ability to keep trafic in the united States National from multiple organizations Broadband Plan, the FCC estimated separate and secure. a total required investment of $16 Sharing will be helpful bebillion to deploy a nationwide public cause it provides great beneits safety Lte. the Middle Class tax at lower cost. For example, Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 partnering with a utility could does not come close on the funding provide an agency affordable front. instead, Congress required access to utility-owned infraFirstNet to look to partnerships to structure in rural geographies make up the $9 billion in additional – towers, rights-of-way, and netresources needed to deploy a work backbone – all of which nationwide network. in practice, can save considerable time and this means partnerships that create resources compared to a greencash. it also means partnerships that ield deployment. Conversely, reduce the deployment costs of the public safety agency infrastrucnetwork. Fortunately, the new law ture –backbone, towers – could provides FirstNet with some powerful also be leased to partners to tools to produce, through spectrum provide a new revenue stream. and network infrastructure sharing. Agencies are also able to gain lexible coverage through partnerships with commercial wireless operators, roaming while in other public safety jurisdictions, and optimized cost and control when operating at “home” in their private LTE network. A larger public safety entity may possess and manage its own centralized equipment, enabling full control over its subscriber base and operations. Alternatively, core network equipment can be shared among multiple entities and managed by a third party. This lexibility gives public safety entities administrative control over their subscribers and network.

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figure 1. bell labs comparison of a u.s. standalone public safety network versus public-private partnership

$25,000

Device management Device Training Coordination and monitoring

$20,000

Planning and engineering Maintenance Roaming expenses HSS

$15,000

NOC and data center IP core LTE core Backbone lease

$10,000

Backhaul Site rental Utilities One-time services

$5,000

Spares MW CAPEX Hardening costs

$0

Site acquisition cost eNodeB

Stand-alone

Public-private

TCO

$21,371M

$14,653M

CAPEX

55%

45%

10-year TCO savings 46 % = $6,718M

•

•

Site acquisition cost is the biggest contributor to the standalone network TCO The other major contributors are hardening costs, maintenance costs, eNodeB, device management and one-time services are major contributors

•

•

Maintenance is the biggest contributor to the public-private partnership TCO Other major contributors include eNodeB, hardening costs, devices

(as submitted on June 15, 2012 to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in its Request for Information on the Development of the State and Local Implementation Grant Program)

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the utilities advantage In many public safety emergency situations, utilities have a key role to play along with ire, police and EMS, and as such they maintain their own emergency response workforce. If a power line is involved in a ire, accident or other emergency, other responders may have to wait for the utility’s staff to address the issue before their rescue activities can begin. A gas leak is similar: the leak must be contained by utility personnel before it is safe for EMS responders to enter. Utilities are in an excellent position to partner with public agencies for an LTE deployment: • Experience: They are well equipped and experienced at responding quickly to emergencies. • Infrastructure: They have substantial infrastructure in place – such as power and transmission poles – to which they can add other equipment. Many have been investing in IP-based communications for years, which in turn can provide the high bandwidth backhaul that will be required for LTE, and they already have iber optics and microwave systems in place. • Presence: They have a particularly strong presence in rural areas and are already focused on end-to-end coverage. For example, utilities reach 100 percent coverage of a geographic area, which is consistent with the coverage public safety is expected to provide. Commercial communications providers typically reach only 97 percent of the population. There are already many successful examples of LMR systems shared between utilities and public safety agencies in the United States, which further demonstrates the value of cooperation.

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a WORD abOut utilities when the public safety community thinks of an ideal partner for the deployment and use of a mission-critical network, they think of a partner who has the same mission-critical needs they do: life and death, not revenues and proit. utilities it the bill. they are emergency irst responders, and they also need a “ive-9s” network that is hardened and built for mission-critical needs so it won’t go ofline when the network is needed the most. they also have an existing revenue base that can support sensible investments in the utility business – smart grids.

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lte: what it is, what it does

LTE is a relatively new wireless technology that greatly increases the speed, reliability and capacity of mobile phone networks. LTE standards were irst described in Release 8 of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Both 3GPP and 3GPP2 have declared LTE to be the next-generation global standard for mobile communications.

Why lte LTE is faster, simpler and more economically feasible than any other mobile communication technology. The following features and beneits combined make LTE much more powerful and reliable than 3G, and provide unprecedented capabilities for public safety, as well as other critical infrastructure operators such as utilities. Better performance – The numerous technological advances of LTE bring better overall performance. End users will certainly notice an improved experience, and the technology itself will be more reliable. A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, for example, is used with LTE. MIMO puts several antennas – rather than one – on a single tower and on the devices. With more antennas working for the same communication, performance (coverage and capacity) is signiicantly improved without the need for additional bandwidth or increased transmitting power. Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) is another technology that is used with LTE. It maximizes the use of available spectrum far better than previous technologies. This is a key attribute because there is a inite amount of spectrum available for use. The improved spectral eficiency lets the system optimize bandwidth data capacity, number of users, and user experience. • What it means for public safety and utilities: Improve situational awareness ¬ Two-way voice, real-time high-deinition video, and large data ile distribution integrated with incident management databases, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), provide for immediate, dependable communications during incident response. With LTE, voluminous amounts of information can be exchanged from anywhere, instantly, in many ways. Collaboration utilizing these tools ensures effective sharing of information in task force operations. Simpliied, IP-based architecture – The all-IP architecture of an LTE network requires fewer elements, which reduces complexity and results in lower capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) as well as lower latency. LTE is also extremely scalable, which makes it easy to accommodate a signiicant number of users. All-IP architecture is also more lexible, making it easy to inter-connect nodes, build pathways between nodes for increased resiliency and availability, and to change the logical paths between nodes if needed. In today’s commercial marketplace, operators are reducing network complexity and cost by leveraging a common IP architecture for their ixed and mobile needs. Public safety agencies can beneit from the same eficiencies. Best of breed technologies and solutions from the commercial sector – augmented with public safety speciic features, such as ruggedized devices for irst responders – will provide reduced cost, reduced complexity, and superior service for the public safety market. • What it means for public safety: Unify communications and enhance day-today operations ¬ Voice, video, and data on one end-to-end IP network results in reduced complexity and lower costs through greater eficiency. LTE supports telemetry and remote diagnostics, which means information can be sent

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figure 2. Public safety lte solution – high level

Devices

Radio Access Network (RAN)

Backhaul (IP/MPLS and microwave)

Evolved Packet Core (EPC)

Operations, Administration and Maintenance

Applications

Data center

eNodeB

IP/MPLS

eNodeB

User Equipment (UE)

Essential signaling and transport control components

Command center

IP-based Architecture

•

automatically to mobile devices and analyzed remotely. As a result, personnel have instant remote access to databases to access vehicle records or suspect iles, for example, or to submit reports electronically. Public safety personnel can be more effective when paperwork and waiting times are reduced. What it means for utilities: Manage distributed ield assets with a single network ¬ LTE provides a single network to enable meter collectors, substations, polemounted and remote intelligent devices, ield personnel, distributed energy resources, enterprise voice and data, as well as video surveillance.

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sPeeD: a GiaNt leaP fORWaRD Lte is much faster than 3G — theoretically more than 15 times faster – in both download and upload speeds. orthogonal Frequency division Multiple Access (oFdMA) technology is used on the downlink while Single-Carrier FdMA (SCFdMA) is used on the uplink. oFdMA provides robust data transmissions when used over wide channels. this enables Lte to be effective at bandwidths larger than 5 MHz, which is the maximum bandwidth at which 3G can work. For example, the maximum theoretical download speed of Lte is 326 Mb/s using 20 MHz bandwidth and 4x4 MiMo schemes. For 3G, it is around 20 Mb/s. Speeds offered to users in the real world are actually much lower than these theoretical or laboratory igures. Both in theory and in practice, however, Lte is clearly a giant leap forward. while 3G typically provides 2 Mb/s in download speed to real-world users with a 5 MHz channel, Lte typically provides 15 Mb/s in download with a 10 MHz channel. Speed in the real world depends on several factors, such as the number of users on the system, distance from the cell tower or the number of antennas on the tower. Speed also depends on the size of the bandwidth channel being used. A channel that is 10 MHz wide is faster than one that is 5 MHz wide.

Low latency – With LTE, users typically experience a one-way latency of 10-15 ms, which is very important when it comes to demanding applications such as push-to-talk or streaming video, and for applications that require very fast access setup, which is often the case with public safety applications. Too much latency degrades the signal and can frustrate the end user. • What it means for public safety: Unprecedented video and digital imaging ¬ LTE gives new meaning to the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Seeing what’s happening at an incident scene – while the situation is unfolding – is much more helpful than hearing about it. LTE provides nearreal-time transmission of high-deinition video, as well as detailed images of crime and disaster scenes, suspects, and more. If an oficer is not responding by radio, a dispatcher can instruct the squad car to activate and/or remotely control a camera and autonomously transmit video to the dispatcher. 22

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What it means for utilities: Realize the beneits of a “smart grid” Utilities are looking for opportunities to leverage intelligent and proactive monitoring of their infrastructure in order to be smarter about how they manage their resources. National energy, environmental and other policies are demanding a more eficient, clean and reliable electric grid. Smart technologies allow utilities to keep energy lowing as cost-effectively as possible. With LTE, the ability to access extremely demanding applications will open the door to many functions that are not possible with current networks. For example, because LTE supports high-deinition video in real time, a utility will be able to use a drone to ly over transmission lines and check for faults before they affect service.

Greater interoperability – LTE has a number of advantages related to interoperability: commercially standardized protocols and interfaces mean that more public A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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safety personnel can talk to one another, agencies and individuals can be on the same communications platform, and there is support for an open device ecosystem. • What it means for public safety and utilities: Enhance cooperation and lower costs ¬ Move away from “special” or proprietary and expensive technologies. ¬ Allow roaming onto commercial networks when necessary, facilitating broad partnerships between public safety and commercial carriers. ¬ Communicate seamlessly with other emergency responders. When utilities join other irst responders on a public safety LTE network, inter-agency communications is greatly enhanced. ¬ After next-generation 112/911 is a reality, leverage growing amounts of information – text, images, and video – received by Public Service Answering Points (PSAPs) from the public through mobile devices. Security – LTE makes use of some of the most advanced mechanisms available for air interface and network security. Air interface security features and capabilities protect the LTE device, network elements, and trafic from attacks originating over the air interface. Network security features and capabilities protect the LTE network elements and trafic from security attacks generated in the wireline transport network and external devices connected to the evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network. End-toend security is achieved with strong data encryption in the devices and network. This includes encryption at the base stations which provides over-the-air ciphering and integrity validation as well as security over land lines connecting the base stations to the EPC using IPSec. Mutual authentication between the network and devices ensures system integrity. • What it means for public safety and utilities: Communicate securely and reliably ¬ Enables secure communication ¬ Eliminates tampering with over-the-air information ¬ Throughput capability enables implementation of additional end-to-end security layers, if needed ¬ Mutual authentication means rogue devices will not jeopardize operations ¬ Provides the basis for a secure and reliable communication between devices and data centers Network sharing – The concurrent use of the network by multiple entities with distinct functions and roles means asset-sharing must be done in a manner amenable to all parties. Standard network-sharing methods are available to ensure multiple en24

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tities have access to their fair share of resources without hindering each other’s operations. For example, an architecture based on the Multiple Operator Core Network (MOCN) concept is possible when utilities have access to their network identity. • What it means for public safety and utilities: Share resources ¬ Spectrum resources can be concurrently used ¬ Spectrum-sharing can be tailored based on mutual agreements ¬ Distinct encryption levels can be provided ¬ Trafic can be segregated Quality of service and prioritization – With its all-IP architecture, the LTE network must rely on QoS controls to handle different types of services and prevent congestion. In that regard, QoS functions are spread across the whole LTE network domain, including the User Equipment (UE), base station, EPC, and IP/multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) backhaul/backbone segments. LTE standards deine a comprehensive framework to support end-to-end QoS – from the terminal to the edge of the EPC. Each user and each application per user can be translated into a set of QoS parameters (data rate, latency, packet loss rate and priority) to enable guaranteed and differentiated delivery of each individual application end-to-end. Further, LTE introduces priority mechanisms, including pre-emption, to distinguish between higher and lower priority sessions and UEs. In the event of congestion, this enables the network to prioritize the most critical services/users by pre-empting resources from less critical applications/users. Finally, the rules of QoS can be changed dynamically, ensuring for instance that a group assigned to an incident will have priority over other irst responders that may also be in the incident area but that are not part of the response team. QoS continuity when roaming is ensured subject to local policies. • What it means for public safety and utilities: Assure QoS for mission-critical activities ¬ Intelligent sharing of air resources and network capacity ¬ Trafic prioritization, especially critical during incidents ¬ Enable quality of experience Bandwidth lexibility — LTE can be lexibly deployed with a wide range of channel sizes, or carrier bandwidths. These can range from 1.4 MHz wide up to 20 MHz. LTE works well at any level within this range. In the future evolution of LTE (LTE-Advanced, irst deined in 3GPP Release 10), it will be possible to aggregate multiple bandwidths to achieve transmission bandwidth in excess of 20 MHz (up to 100 MHz). A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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figure 3. Public safety lte network delivers high-speed broadband mobile access PUBLIC SAFETY

Information and Application Access Public Safety Video, images, sharing/greater interoperability, etc

TRANSPORTATION

Public Safety LTE Network

Transportation Video surveillance remote sensors, traffic management, etc Utilities Manage distributed field assets, inter-agency communications, video etc

UTILITIES

•

What it means for public safety and utilities: Flexibility and scalability ¬ Flexibility to it in existing but disparate spectrum slices (e.g. at 400 MHz) ¬ System performance scalability as additional spectrum becomes available

How lte Meets the Needs of Public safety Worldwide, governments are striving to protect their citizens and critical infrastructures from threats that range from broad-scale terrorist activities or natural disasters to a more localized incident like a ire, crime and medical crisis. Public safety agencies must deal with a growing number and diversity of calls for service while also faced with tight budgets, constrained workforces, and public expectations of increasingly more rapid and effective action. LTE offers relief for public safety and irst responder organizations, enabling high-speed broadband accessible over wide coverage areas, improved interoperability, more effective use of multiple systems and applications (video, digital imagery, maps, automatic vehicle location (AVL), Web access, remote reporting, biometric reporting,...). Situational awareness and decision-making will be improved, which in turn will increase the safety of the public and the irst responders themselves. Uniied communications infrastructure — With LTE, public safety agencies can provide voice, video and data all on the same network. This type of uniied 26

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Public safety lte sOlutiONs 400 MHz: evercor®, the integrated Lte 400 PMR solution from Alcatel-Lucent and Cassidian, provides an option for the existing PMR 380-470 MHz band. it offers high data-rate capabilities for PMR networks that ensure the needed bandwidth for reliable voice and easy-to-use data, video services – allowing PMR users to operate effectively. As the world’s irst commercial Lte PMR offer at 400 MHz, the solution can also be integrated into existing tetRA and tetRAPoL networks. 700 MHz: the Alcatel-Lucent solution for the use of the 2x10 MHz of bandwidth in the upper 700 MHz spectrum (band 14) was established to enable advanced public safety wireless communications in the united States. additional spectrum: Solutions for agencies with spectrum in standard Lte bands

communications has become increasingly popular in recent years, and LTE takes it to the next level with technological advances. With everything on one network, it is easy to add more capabilities as they are needed, or as funding becomes available. This helps agencies manage their budgets. That is why many public safety agencies are planning to irst roll out data services on LTE networks, and then add voice capabilities later. They can continue to use their LMR/PMR systems for voice until the time is right to move voice to the LTE network. When it is time to add voice, agencies don’t need to waste their investment in LTE equipment. Instead, they just add the voice application to the LTE infrastructure, and keep moving forward. This is much more economical than in the past, when agencies would build a separate network to add a new capability, incurring extra costs for both deployment and operations. Ecosystem of devices — The public sector has a tremendous opportunity with LTE to leverage commercially available equipment and devices. Applications, devices and other equipment have been developed mostly in the private sector for commercial purposes. It makes sense for public safety to take advantage of the tremendous foundation that has been laid. It is easier to achieve interoperability in a variety of situations when using devices that are available everywhere. USB dongles, PC cards and vehicle modems are likely to be used when public safety LTE networks are initially deployed. Cell phones, smartphones and other multimedia-capable devices (tablets, PC, etc.) are also available. A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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prepariNg for lte

Getting ready for LTE will take some work, but the effort will be well worth it. As public safety agencies prepare to create LTE networks, there are many key steps along the way. Determine user requirements. Think ahead about what users will actually want to do once LTE is in place. What are their requirements? They could be different for each public safety agency. Will users need high-deinition video all the time? Will the agency want to do a lot of administrative or ofice work from a mobile environment? What will the agency use text messages for, and how often? Which databases will people need to access while out in the ield? This type of application and user analysis is an important step in preparing for LTE. Talk with actual users – police oficers, ireighters and EMS personnel, for example — and understand how they will use the LTE system.

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Determine which applications are needed. Once user requirements are known, the agency can determine which kinds of applications are needed. Conirm the throughput requirements for those applications. How much capacity will be required to fulill user needs? Think ahead; public safety agencies always want more and more applications that require broadband. Consider applications that improve situational awareness. Also look at those that improve communications across different agencies and jurisdictions. Be aware that most of the commercial service providers limit bandwidth per month, which can be a problem if video is used frequently. Consider solution requirements. Think about users, capacity, coverage, existing infrastructure, device ecosystem and other factors in the overall solution. Assess what the agency has. Early on, look at what the agency has, and how it is being used. Then determine how much of it can be leveraged when creating the LTE network. There may be extensive facilities that can be used, which will save a lot of money. Conduct an in-depth assessment of existing network infrastructure and backhaul. What can be used from the LMR/PMR infrastructure? Does the agency have microwave? Fiber? MPLS? How is everything connected to the network? What is owned? What is leased? Look at the agency’s physical infrastructure. If there are existing tower sites for voice communications, it is likely these can be re-used for the LTE network. But the agency should look closely. How many towers are there? Can they bear more weight? Hold more antennas? Can an LTE base station (eNodeB) be added? Is there enough power at the base of each tower to run more equipment? The agency should also conirm how it is currently connecting to those sites, and the capacity of those connections. Identify system strengths and weaknesses. With LTE, there will be more data trafic — and it needs enough network capacity to get from place to place. Where does the agency’s system have room to grow? How can the agency achieve greater capacity? Are there bottlenecks in the network that impede adding capacity? Identify strengths and weaknesses, whether the agency has its own network or is leasing from a commercial carrier. If leasing, can the agency’s carrier handle an increase in data trafic once LTE is here?

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If the agency owns the network, can the equipment and infrastructure grow to meet future demands? Will the network need more backhaul? Sometimes, additional technologies can bridge the gaps. MPLS, for example, can help the current backhaul network run more eficiently, so the agency can expand capacity that way rather than building more backhaul.

bell labs suPPORt with its expertise in both telecommunications and economic analyses, Bell Labs Advisory Services provides extensive support for Lte planning activities. examples of support may include: • Assess the viability and capacity of backhaul/backbone facilities • trafic modeling • Study of multiple RF coverage scenarios • Reliability assessment of particular

Future-proof when buying. architectures based on potential It is important to future-proof site locations the network. The agency needs • total cost of ownership analyses; to think about LTE now, so it for example, to help spread costs does not go down the wrong with secondary partners path in planning or purchasing. Ensure everything that is done today will pay off later when LTE goes live — both for the agency and for neighboring jurisdictions. The agency will make better purchases after it has done a thorough assessment of what it has and where its weaknesses are. Choose technologies that will allow the agency to grow and get the most out of LTE. The agency can upgrade its transport network, improve connectivity to towers or make other network improvements as usual, but it should start to also factor LTE into its thinking. Develop a device strategy. Identify which groups of users can use commercially available devices. For users who need a ruggedized or hardened device, such as some irst responders, determine whether it is more economical for them to use a commercial device or a speciic cover which will make the device drop-resistant or water-repellant. Assess whether the savings will offset the potential cost to replace the damaged device, and whether a device failure will impact irst responder safety or the mission.

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Partnering with other agencies. For many agencies, partnering is a sensible arrangement. In the U.S., this will be a state-level decision. It may be advantageous early in the network design and deployment process to consider the potential beneits and requirements of a partnership with a utility and/or transportation agency. For example, this might include a public-private partnership with a utility that provides the utility with controlled use of the public safety LTE network. With this partnership, a speciied amount of bandwidth and designated level of priority will be available for utility communications. The utility has assets that include existing backhaul, right of way, and funding that may enable a more rapid broadband deployment than feasible when based solely on a public safety agency’s budget. In rural areas where public safety LMR/PMR coverage may be limited and the cost for covering each citizen is higher, it may be particularly advantageous to consider leveraging utility assets to accelerate coverage. A partnership could provide additional beneits such as enhanced public safety and the ability to interoperate and collaborate with utility irst responders. In determining whether to partner with others, consider the agency’s size and network capabilities. Also consider core competencies. Are neighboring agencies stronger in certain areas? Perhaps working together can shore up everyone’s weaknesses, and expand everyone’s strengths. Establish governance and/or regional agreement. How will the new LTE network be governed? If working with other agencies, it will take extra effort to create a jurisdictional agreement everyone can support. If working alone, the agency will still have some governance issues to sort out. Which of the users will have priority access to the network, and in which situations? Policies should spell out the priorities within the agency. Even if the agency covers a single jurisdiction, it will need agreement between police, ire, EMS and possibly other agencies as well. Partnering with other agencies gets more complicated. LTE provides an unprecedented opportunity to put together regional networks, but it can only work if jurisdictions agree on a governance model. How will each of the agencies use the network? What is one agency’s priority compared to other’s? How do the agencies handle users who roam into each other’s regions? “Jurisdictional priority” can be one way to address the issue. This gives each agency control of a portion of the network (base stations within its jurisdiction, for example). Thus each jurisdiction is truly part of the solution, while still retaining some ownership and control.

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Governance also plays a part during a multi-agency response to a large incident. Much is determined by the location of the incident, as the “home” agency will have the most control. In all cases, the agency should ensure personnel have the bandwidth and access to get the resources they need. Create a business case. Whether the agency needs its own private LTE network or wants to partner with others, it needs a strong business case to present to decisionmakers. A big part of this is inancial. If the agency uses a commercial carrier, ind out what is spent with that carrier each month for broadband. Multiply that by the number of users and the agency is probably paying a large sum each month. With LTE lowering the cost of owning a network, it might be less expensive to build a network than to continue paying for the use of someone else’s. Do a cost/beneit analysis. What is the best investment value for the organization? What makes sense? Sometimes partnering with another agency can dramatically lower costs. If the agency moves away from commercial carriers to build its own network, keep in mind that the agency will have to take on the maintenance and support of that network as well. But it is like supporting an LMR/PMR network, and the overall advantages could outweigh the new responsibility of maintenance and support. An agency could opt to have its own network but pay someone else to manage it and still come out ahead. Decide on interoperability with LMR/PMR. An important decision to make is whether to connect the agency’s LTE and LMR/PMR networks. There are two schools of thought. One says an agency should connect them because it will want as much interoperability and lexibility as possible. The other says there is no real problem in keeping them separate; eventually the voice will move over onto LTE anyway and LMR/PMR will fade out of the picture. At this point, no one seems certain about whether LMR/PMR will stick around. There would be advantages to converging voice and data onto one LTE network. For starters, the LTE handsets would be much less expensive than LMR/PMR devices. But they would likely have to be proven in the ield before everyone in public safety migrates to them. Meanwhile, the investment in LMR/PMR has already been made, so it might be hard to move away from that anytime soon. People will have to wait and see. But eventually the decision will have to be made by each public safety agency.

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deployiNg aN lte Network

Providing Reliable, secure communications A key requirement for a public safety network is that it must provide the capability to irst responders to communicate together while in the ield and with command and control centers from any place and under any circumstance. To achieve this very demanding objective (which goes well beyond what commercial cellular networks can offer), a combination of speciic network design and advanced solution features is required. Maximize communications reach and coverage. First, the public safety LTE radio coverage must span both densely populated areas as well as remote and sparsely populated areas (for example, in mountains/forested areas to ight forest ires) where irst responder operations are also needed. A common requirement is 95%-98% outdoor coverage of the area an agency serves. Although the requirement is set at a high level, it is not possible to cover all the dificult environments A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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(like deep inside a building/basement or canyon). With existing LMR/PMR technology, direct terminal-to-terminal communication is available to maintain and extend continuity of communications between irst responders where network coverage is not available (for example, a ireman entering a basement to extinguish a ire). A similar feature that will enable terminal-to-terminal communications for LTE is being studied right now by the 3GPP under the name ”Proximity Services” in the Release 12 timeframe (ProSe, TR22.803). Additionally, a Cell-on-Wheels (COW) can be deployed in the vicinity of an incident to temporarily provide high quality and high capacity local coverage. This COW can connect to the network with a conventional backhaul solution such as microwave or it may be operated as a relay in the future (as also deined by the 3GPP standards). Ensure non-stop communications. Another aspect of the reliability and availability of an LTE public safety network relies on the way the nodes of an end-to-end LTE network are deployed and interconnected. The LTE core network can be deployed in a geo-redundant coniguration to enhance solution resiliency in the event of a disaster at a core site. On top of this, LTE offers the inherent capability to connect each base station (eNodeB) to multiple core network elements. This enables the load balancing of trafic to maximize performance and network capacity use under normal operating conditions; but more importantly it provides services continuity to the irst responders if there is a failure of a core network element. Also, LTE is an all-IP technology and all nodes can be interconnected with a redundant/meshed packet-based backhaul network. When IP/MPLS is used on the backhaul network, it can be designed so that any transmission link or transmission equipment failure can automatically be resolved in less than 50 ms by selecting an alternative transmission path using the Fast ReRoute feature. The battery back-up design also has a key role in the overall availability and resiliency of the solution. In the event of a major electricity blackout (caused, for example, by a tornado knocking down electrical poles), public safety communications must continue to operate to support the rescue of citizens and to maintain security in the disaster area. Consequently, the battery back-up systems must be over-sized compared to commercial networks practices, and may include backup generators to handle prolonged power outages. In the event the local communications infrastructure is destroyed by a major disaster (such as looding or ire), it is always possible to deploy a COW equipped with a back-up generator to provide emergency communications.

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Deliver quality of service. The last key element relates to QoS and the speciic management of QoS for public safety operations to deliver the required performance. LTE is an all-IP radio network where all applications share the same radio channel and IP infrastructure. The LTE standard deines a comprehensive toolbox that enables a differentiated QoS for speciic applications (such as voice, data and video) and users. Rules can be deined for each application and user to determine exactly how that particular trafic low should be handled from end to end. The parameters that can be set include such things as data rate (guaranteed or not), latency, packet loss and priority. Every single packet that enters the LTE network is inspected and mapped to the appropriate bearer channel. Hence, when selecting an LTE packet core, it is of utmost importance to choose a solution with a high performance Packet Data Gateway (PGW) that is able to eficiently handle the deep packet inspection (DPI) and mapping process for all incoming packets. During deployment, the QoS parameters for each application/user are provisioned so that each user experiences the appropriate performance under any radio circumstances. It is also possible to control and modify the QoS parameters of a particular (group of) user(s) or applications dynamically. This means that in an emergency situation, for example, the situation commander could temporarily provide higher priority to the team assigned to respond to the incident. A dedicated network will provide this level of control of these parameters.

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buildiNg up the baCkhaul Network to support lte traffiC

Data and video applications require much more bandwidth than voice services. As public safety deploys LTE for faster, higher quality multimedia services, the growing demand for bandwidth will put pressure on the backhaul network. Public safety network operators need a more lexible and cost-effective way to quickly transform their backhaul networks to carry this mobile data trafic. Existing backhaul networks based on leased lines cannot deliver the required capacity in a cost-controlled manner. Public safety agencies should leverage the optimal cost points of newer transport technologies including Carrier Ethernet and MPLS to provide the high reliability, performance and manageability of mission-critical packet and legacy trafic. An all-IP backhaul will accommodate the new packet-based services while simultaneously supporting traditional services because IP/MPLS is capable of supporting all trafic types (data, voice and video) and protocols (TDM, ATM, Ethernet, IP, etc.). Historically, organizations have built networks for a single purpose. This has resulted in the operation and management of multiple siloed networks. With new A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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BuiLdiNG uP tHe BACKHAuL NetwoRK to SuPPoRt Lte tRAFFiC

IP/MPLS technology, an agency can converge all of these networks and start running this trafic over a single network to gain eficiencies through load balancing, as well as shared operating costs, management and security. For public service agencies, a consolidated backhaul provides the additional advantage that they can leverage this new digital foundation to combine storage of all of the data gathered. To meet the stringent QoS requirements of real-time trafic, the mobile backhaul network must integrate many of the qualities and attributes of switched networks including predictability, reliability and manageability. Rather than using multiple overlay backhaul networks, the solution should accommodate legacy access needs and be optimized for next generation broadband services using Ethernet and MPLS, based on multiservice routing and switching platforms. The use of Ethernet/ATM/ TDM-based pseudowires will bring mature and eficient functionality to the RAN and enable the transition of the legacy RAN to packet. When making the transformation to packet, there are some important requirements to keep in mind. The mobile backhaul network must: 40

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iP, MPls aND lte iP/MPLS networks are perfectly suited for providing backhaul (transport) in Lte networks. iP/MPLS can handle high bandwidth, media-rich services that require end-to-end QoS. And while iP/MPLS can evolve with future needs and Lte, it also integrates with multi-generational networks that need to incorporate legacy technologies. the use of both iP and MPLS has been growing consistently in recent years, and that growth is expected to continue. Many public safety agencies have already transitioned to iP/MPLS networks to converge multiple services — voice, data and video — onto a single platform. other agencies have at least started on this, by moving their LMR/PMR communications to iP. with iP/MPLS, multiple types of data from numerous agencies can be sent over the network, while keeping trafic separate and secure. MPLS also provides better lexibility and performance than previous technologies. MPLS can carry both mobile and ixed services simultaneously. it is a mature technology that provides many options for the future.

• • • • • • • •

Support current LMR/PMR services while providing the scalability and lexibility to support new LTE mobile services Enable scalable bandwidth at lower cost (leveraging Ethernet/IP over multiple media: copper, iber, microwave) Provide service assurance across all services (via carrier-grade Ethernet/MPLS) Deliver accurate clock synchronization mechanisms to converge rapidly across the packet RAN Lower operational costs (via integrated management) Provide QoS support for all mobile services, eficiently allocating scarce network resources in real time Increase network optimization and capacity, improving cost per bit transported as leased lines are replaced Address infrastructure diversity via lexible backhaul alternatives, each providing an evolution to all-IP

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supportiNg Video oN the lte Network

First responders and command center personnel can improve situational awareness and decision-making with the ability to see what is happening before, during and after an incident. There is a growing amount of video surveillance feeds from ixed cameras and camera-equipped vehicles, irst responders with tablets, and helmet cameras which can all be shared with irst responder teams. Because LTE enables video to be rapidly shared and adapted, the frequency, type and amount of video content will grow. For example, citizens will soon be able to send video via 112/911 systems. In addition, camera systems with remote pan, tilt and zoom capabilities are available, and they provide the ability to vary the framerate to suit the particular application (for example, to detect an intrusion or identify an intruder). As a result, there are two signiicant factors that must be addressed: • Equipping command/dispatch centers and irst responders to effectively manage video A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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•

Implementing procedures governing the use of video, including its management for large incidents to maximize irst responder and mobile network performance

effectively Managing Video Within the dispatch and/or command center, an important element to implement as part of the initial solution deployment is a capability to effectively manage the video selection, distribution and storage. For many agencies this will be with a management solution (available today) that integrates information from other applications – such as license plate recognition and access control systems in a police command center – to deliver a more comprehensive situational view. Using remote camera management capabilities, the center can select the appropriate feed(s) and push them to the irst responder(s) and agencies with whom they are collaborating at an incident. For example, this might include remotely accessing the DVR in a vehicle that passed a store while on patrol just minutes prior to a burglary to determine if the vehicle’s camera captured information on the suspect and vehicle. The command center could remotely select the appropriate level of picture resolution and provide this in real-time to responders, along with a local street video surveillance feed to aid in the resolution. First responders need the capability to quickly and easily move between different live video feeds streamed to their device to effectively aid in increasing situational awareness and faster, better decision-making. For example, they should be able to easily move a video from their vehicle laptop to a ruggedized tablet or smartphone when leaving their vehicle – without having to undertake time-consuming actions like re-sizing and manipulating windows. The lexibility to view multiple video streams and then select the relevant one is also needed, and is not always readily available on every device.

Governance of Video content The use of video has legal and regulatory implications, which will become more pressing as that use grows and videos are dynamically communicated at incidents. It is extremely important that agencies develop and communicate procedures for how video is to be captured, shared and stored, particularly between agencies. Multiple video streams have the potential to consume a lot of bandwidth, so when multiple agencies respond to a large incident, priorities must be clear. Agencies should establish procedures that focus on the number of video streams, their resolution, and so on, to maximize irst responder and network performance. 44

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fiRst ResPONDeR ViDeO Alcatel-Lucent First Responder Video enables the command/ dispatch center to tailor the number of video and data views as well as the screen layout for each device type and group of users, so information is delivered in a way that is appropriate to the situation as well as meaningful in relation to the size of the device. innovative software developed by Bell Labs makes the speedy delivery of this information possible over a Public Safety Lte network and optimizes the use of network bandwidth. it enables multiple video feeds and operational data to be mixed into a single stream that is sent to mobile devices. the resulting stream provides signiicant bandwidth gain (a ratio of at least the number of mixed lows to one) and eficient decoding and display at the device since the complex manipulations are done in the First Responder Video server in the command center. First Responder Video offers two modes of operation. the dispatcher can select the video mix to be transmitted to each speciic group of users, and can change the mix according to the mission needs. Also, users can directly share video with other users that belong to their group by simply selecting a video from the mosaic and sharing it. First Responder Video can also operate over commercial 3G and 4G networks. this enables agencies today to start a pilot deployment to determine operational procedures as well as beneit from enhanced safety and teamwork. then once their Public Safety Lte network is deployed, support can evolve to this network which offers additional control and a broader deployment.

Modeling of video use and key applications may be helpful inputs in developing procedures on the use of video. If the applications used and/or number of irst responders at an incident varies signiicantly within the agency’s jurisdiction, it might be helpful to develop separate models for each key area, such as urban, suburban and rural. A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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eVolViNg VoiCe support oN the lte Network

An LTE public safety network is primarily deployed to provide additional capabilities to irst responders that will improve operational effectiveness, including broadband applications such as live video and high-speed sharing of information such as maps and pictures. Initially, these capabilities will likely be available to a subset of irst responders, and then to an increasing number over time as budgets and applications become available. Voice (and especially group voice calls) on existing LMR/PMR networks will continue to be an essential mode of communication for all irst responders. However, it is very important to also support voice on the LTE network. LTE can provide VoIP services today and a new set of standard parameters has been already deined for Voice over LTE (VoLTE), which provides VoIP interoperability for commercial voice services. Providing VoLTE on a public safety network initially enables agencies to replace commercial wireless devices with devices that leverage the public safety network, A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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MissiON cRitical VOice: u.s. R&D in the same legislative act that created FirstNet, the u.S. Congress also provided up to $300 million to the National institute of Standards and technology to pursue research and development on public safety communications needs, including mission critical voice over broadband. the directives from Congress include: • document public safety requirements • Accelerate deployment of capability for communications between narrowband and broadband networks • Research plan addressing wireless communications needs of public safety beyond that provided by current generation of technology • Accelerate deployment of mission critical voice, including “talkaround,” over broadband networks, prioritization, authentication, and standard APis for the nationwide broadband network • Accelerate deployment of technology and equipment that eventually facilitates migration from narrowband to broadband network

thus reducing the total cost of ownership. However, the requirements for voice support go well beyond the standard VoLTE service. In fact, in the public safety context, what is most important is for the LTE network to interwork with P25/TETRA voice (and low data-rate services like short message). Over the short term, this interworking enables interoperability. It also provides the necessary migration path from P25/ TETRA with an LTE overlay to a mission-critical LTE network running all missioncritical services (voice, video and data). To achieve interoperability, a gateway that interconnects the narrowband systems with the LTE system is deployed. This gateway enables the extension of push to talk (PTT) application with P25/TETRA to the LTE network. The same gateway may also have the role of a full-blown PTT server for LTE. In the current approach for P25 interworking with LTE, all PTT messages (signaling, loor control, media) are transported over LTE and a PTT client is installed on the LTE terminal to emulate P25 terminal behavior. As a consequence, the LTE terminal enabled with client software will mimic and inherit all services available on P25. The interworking protocol is based on the extension of the IP-based ISSI interface, which has previously been deined to interconnect multiple P25 networks. Preliminary implementations are available that enable a irst level of interworking. Standardization of this mechanism for P25/LTE interworking is on-going in the TIA TR8.8 group. Similar discussions are also starting in the TETRA/TETRAPOL community. This will ensure full interoperability between jurisdictions (and solutions from different suppliers). 48

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In parallel, through the addition of new 3GPP functionalities such as Proximity Services (ProSe; providing talkaround or direct mode of operations), evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (eMBMS) and GCSEL (Group Communication System Enablers for LTE), LTE public safety networks will be able to more eficiently handle large-scale group communications. This will pave the way toward complete migration to a mission-critical LTE network. Preliminary implementations are available that enable a irst level of interworking.

sPectRuM fOR bROaDbaND Public safety iN euROPe Spectrum for broadband public safety in europe is not available today. A radio regulation group (CePt FM 49) is working on identifying spectrum for broadband applications. this includes identiication of potential new bands below 1 GHz and an optimized use of the existing PMR 400 MHz band (380-470 MHz) for broadband use. Meanwhile, european public safety organizations have similar needs to those in the u.S. and a few of them are considering using commercial networks to start. However, commercial networks do not provide the same level of availability, resiliency, security and control that a private network would. So, it is envisaged that while a commercial operator may be relied on to provide RAN connectivity now, when spectrum is available to deploy a private network, public safety organizations will opt to deploy a multi-agency private network.

supporting roaming out of jurisdiction Public safety users need to connect not only in their own jurisdiction, but also in other jurisdictions, for example, to provide mutual aid. In the U.S., the National Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) will support seamless roaming from one part of the network to another part, using the X2 and/or S1 handover mechanisms deined in the 3GPP standards. To support roaming to other jurisdictions within the NPSBN a “home APN” is deined that connects the user to their home PGW to provide access to services in their home enterprise network. To connect to the visiting jurisdiction’s enterprise network, a “common Access Point Name (APN)” is used as deined in “PSCR Public Safety 700 MHz Demonstration Network, Network Identiier Guidelines, Version 1.0”, dated January 2012. This “common APN” dynamically connects the user to the visiting network for services in that network; including a visiting portal that provides information on the visiting network, such as incident information.

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use of a commercial wireless carrier The availability of dedicated bandwidth to support broadband public safety services depends on the region or country. However, even when a dedicated spectrum and network are deployed, it may also be desirable to take advantage of the coverage provided by a commercial operator, particularly in regions where the commercial network reaches areas the public safety network does not. If this occurs, irst responders will want to be able to roam to the commercial network to maintain communications. Some terminals (such as the vehicular routers) include multiple radio modems (for example, both a dedicated public safety network LTE modem and a commercial LTE network modem). This enables the public service agency to leverage the connectivity to multiple networks and enhance the throughput of that terminal if needed. When visiting a commercial LTE network, the network interfaces with the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) in the user’s home network (NPSBN in the case of FirstNet) to retrieve the speciic subscriber information. This includes information about the “home APN” and “common APN” as discussed above. To connect to the “home APN” the home-routed model is used as deined in 3GPP TS 23.401 and shown below. figure 4. connecting a public safety lte network with a commercial lte network

Operator’s IP Services

Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF)

User’s Home Public Safety Broadband (In US, NPSBN)

Internet Packet Exchange Provider (IPX)

Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW)

Home Subscriber Server (HSS)

IPX Diameter Agent

Charging Data Function/Charging Gateway Function (CDF/CGF)

IPX BGP Routing

Billing Domain (BD)

Billing Mediation

Commercial LTE Network Domain Name System (DNS)

Mobility Management Entity (MME)

LTE User eNodeB

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Serving Gateway (SGW)

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Visited Charging Data Function/Charging Gateway Function (V-CDF/CGF)

Billing Domain (BD)

figure 5. local trafic routing when roaming

Home Operator’s IP Services

User’s Home Public Safety Broadband (In US, NPSBN)

Home Policy Rules Function (H-PCRF)

Home Subscriber Server (HSS)

Internet Packet Exchange Provider (IPX)

Billing Domain (BD)

IPX Diameter Agent

Billing Mediation

Commercial LTE Network

Visited Operator’s IP Services

Domain Name System (DNS)

Visited Policy and Charging Rules Function (V-PCRF)

Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW)

Mobility Management Entity (MME)

LTE User

eNodeB

Serving Gateway (SGW)

Visited Charging Data Function/Charging Gateway Function (V-CDF/CGF)

Billing Domain (BD)

In the US, as shown in Figure 4, it is expected that FirstNet will select an Internet Packet Exchange (IPX) provider to handle the connectivity between the NPSBN and the various commercial networks with whom NPBSN creates roaming agreements. When roaming onto commercial networks, it may be desirable to route certain trafic, such as Internet trafic, locally in the commercial LTE network. The standards deine a local breakout model to achieve this as illustrated in Figure 5. When using a local breakout, a PGW in the commercial LTE network is used. The Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) in the visiting network interacts with the PCRF in the home network to determine QoS and priority of sessions established using this method. Either or both home-routed and local-breakout APNs can be supported for a user’s device. This depends on the user APN data conigured in the HSS. In addition to roaming to commercial LTE networks, roaming to commercial networks with different radio technologies such as HSPA, GERAN, 1xEV-Do, or eHRPD is also supported.

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rollout strategy

Public safety agencies will clearly beneit from LTE, yet there are factors such as budget, regulatory issues and internal resource constraints that stop deployment from happening sooner – rather than later. As part of the deployment process it is worth considering two signiicant factors – coverage and reliability – in multiple phases or budget cycles. This can relect the availability of applications and devices as well as incremental funding. Speciic coverage and reliability requirements associated with the RAN technology and frequency are two factors that drive the number of base stations, their antenna design, backhaul requirements and cost. The initial macro network design should focus on the long term requirements. A deployment plan may specify coverage requirements that will be phased in over time to relect the available budget. For example, the RAN design might begin by focusing on a goal of 95% outdoor coverage. If suficient budget is not available, the initial phase might focus on coverage for a subset of the overall area the agency serves. A How-to Guide: PuBLiC SAFetY Lte - GLoBAL editioN alcatel-luceNt

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In a subsequent phase, the coverage may be extended to include more areas. Inbuilding coverage in key areas or a growing number of buildings might be included in initial and/or subsequent phases. Coverage goals in urban and rural areas might vary. For example, there might be a 95% coverage goal for vehicle routers in rural areas and a 95% coverage goal for handheld and vehicle routers in urban areas. As part of the deployment plan, in-building coverage might be provided in select buildings. Small cells can also be included as part of the network design to eficiently address in-building coverage. Whenever possible, a network design that places base stations as close as possible to key buildings might be implemented to help maximize the possible in-building coverage. This approach might be desirable even in the absence of a speciic goal, due to budget constraints. A phased rollout of LTE service to speciic agencies and departments within an organization can also be used to relect budgets and minimize risk. For example, smartphones might initially be deployed to a subset of the organization such as inspectors and detectives in a police department. They might be provided with initial support for only a subset of the possible applications while the agency’s communications team

Phased Public Safety LTE Deployment

Spectrum, regulations and resources enable LTE deployment

Phase 1 • Begin deploying a portion of LTE backhaul network that also maximizes LMR/PMR coverage and performance • Utilize utility/transportation backhaul in areas where public safety lacks a presence for LMR/PMR–beginning of public/provate partnership with utility or transportation operator Phase 2 • LTE outside coverage (95%) in subset of agency’s area • Initial application support and rollout to subset of agency departments • Voice interworking with P25/TETRA for non-critical applications • Initial shared utility/transportation access Phase 3 • Expand LTE coverage and in-building coverage at select sites • Expand agency department and application support Subsequent Phase(s) • Introduce new applications and evaluate voice support • Fill in coverage holes and expand coverage into new areas with lightRadio™ and continue expanding in-building coverage

This is an example of one of many possible phased approaches

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Multiple budget and grant cycles

First create a Public Safety LTE macro network design that reflects long term requirements.

ramps up its network knowledge and support. Additional departments and applications could be added in subsequent phases. Small cells might be used to ill in holes in coverage such as stadiums or to expand coverage into new areas. Units could be mounted on light poles, power poles and buildings – essentially disappearing into the environment. This greatly reduces the expense and regulatory hurdles of building new towers. For agencies facing regulatory uncertainty (either for availability of broadband spectrum or for those in the U.S. awaiting more details on FirstNet), the initial deployment phase might focus on backhaul. Besides development of new RAN sites, backhaul has one of the longer timelines in the overall LTE deployment schedule. To do this, agencies should begin by creating an LTE RF design with associated backhaul today that also relects P25/TETRA requirements. They can then begin installing backhaul to improve today’s voice capabilities, using the design for tomorrow’s broadband with LTE to help accelerate the availability of its beneits once regulatory and budgets constraints permit. For public safety agencies in the U.S., the speciic backhaul resources and cost in support of LTE might be positioned as part of their contribution to the FirstNet deployment in their state.

best practices Putting an LTE network on top of an LMR/PMR system will provide signiicant broadband capabilities for the public safety agency. Solid preparation is crucial before deploying (see previous section) and, once the prep work is done, managing the LTE deployment properly becomes extremely important. The deployment needs to stay on track regarding timelines, budget, logistics and more. Strong project management is a must. There are many steps along the way – purchasing, installation, end-to-end integration and testing, to name a few. Following are some key suggestions. Choose the right system integrator. It is vital to have a good network integrator. Often, the integrator is also the project manager, so there could be one company designing, integrating, deploying and maintaining the system. An experienced integrator can bring all the elements together to make the LTE project a success. Many vendors will be required for the end-to-end implementation, so the agency needs an integrator who can manage the contributions of all and, for example, one that can leverage the broadband innovation and knowledge created in the ng Connect multicompany ecosystem.

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ng connect POiNts tO tHe futuRe A program called ng Connect (ng for “next generation”) brings together companies that create infrastructure (including Alcatel-Lucent), devices, applications and content for broadband, to help develop the best possible uses of Lte and other broadband technologies. the goal is to share knowledge, work together and help create tomorrow’s end-to-end broadband ecosystem. For more information, visit www.ngconnect.org.

Choose an integrator who offers multiple types of technologies and is familiar with the impacts of LTE on backhaul. Systems integration and coniguration are very important in public safety because separate systems such as video surveillance or 112/911 centers must be integrated into the LTE network. The new LTE network should be fully interoperable with other systems, technologies and services. Be sure to select a system integrator with extensive experience.

Hire a strong project manager. The project manager must be organized, able to set priorities, manage risks and keep everyone aligned. Deploying an LTE network is a large, complex endeavor. Many different components from a variety of vendors need to come together. There are a lot of players involved, and the project manager should help them work together. Networks are more complicated than they used to be. Traditionally a network would be built for a single purpose. Today they are built for multiple services. Today’s networks must be service-aware, and able to monitor and manage themselves to truly give public safety agencies what they need. A strong project manager is needed to help with the complexity of today’s networks. Deploy in phases. Implementing the LTE network in phases has several advantages. By going slowly, the agency can learn as it goes, and users have time to adjust. LTE can do many things better than previous technologies although it is best not to introduce all the changes at once! A good approach is to implement the backhaul and core LTE network irst (in the U.S., the FirstNet core might be utilized), and then follow a conservative, phased deployment model. Perhaps work with just a limited number of base stations at irst in a smaller area to gain experience. Manage that small deployment as its own project. Take lessons learned and then expand on it. The agency can continue to roll out services from there. This incremental knowledge gained along the way beneits everyone as things move forward. If any adjustments must be made during deployment, they are more easily made on a smaller scale.

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And the agency can get valuable feedback from users. Getting this feedback in small deployments at the beginning helps ensure subsequent deployments go more smoothly. Plan for quality assurance testing. Build time into the schedule for thorough testing. Testing helps ensure the new LTE system meets the requirements of its public safety users. Make sure all the devices, applications and individual components within the system are working properly. Also test the entire LTE solution, from end-to-end. Test internally, during the design stage and at later stages. Also test everything later, with the users themselves, before full deployment. Consider outsourcing for operations and maintenance. LTE is a different technology from legacy LMR/PMR, and it will bring changes for public safety. Some agencies may be more comfortable outsourcing operations and maintenance. In the U.S., this decision may be made at a state level in conjunction with a decision to participate in FirstNet. Outsourcing agreements can be cost effective, with the option to cover either some or all aspects of the network, including operations and security. They can even apply to multi-vendor networks. Even if the agency does not want to permanently outsource network operation, it might want to have the system integrator operate the LTE network for a while once it comes online to help get off to a good start.

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invest today to accelerate beneits MObile bROaDbaND = iMPROVeD Public safety with high speed, low latency and other features, Lte fulills mission-critical public safety needs: • increased interoperability • improved situational awareness • Better security • Support for high-speed, high-capacity applications: ¬

High-deinition video streaming

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High-speed data transmission

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High-resolution photos

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detailed mapping

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More accurate vehicle location

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transfer of very large iles

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Faster web, e-mail and text messaging

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Better access to remote databases

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Faster reporting improved computer-aided dispatch

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dependable telemetry/remote diagnostics

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Now that the agency has a better understanding of LTE, it can begin to prepare for implementation. LTE will be deployed over time, but now is the time to assess what the agency has, identify initial applications and begin building a plan. Focus on partnerships now so that the requirements and beneits can be integrated early into the network design. Designing and equipping backhaul today for tomorrow’s broadband with LTE will immediately improve LMR/ PMR voice capabilities and will help accelerate availability of next generation beneits once spectrum, regulatory and budget constraints permit. Deploy a First Responder Video pilot using commercial 4G/3G services to determine operational procedures as well as beneit from enhanced safety and teamwork. Public Safety LTE will bring numerous improvements to communications, greatly aiding all irst responder personnel. There is much an agency can do to prepare. And because public safety communication is so important, it is best to start now.

alcatel-lucent is a leading lte provider globally and a trusted partner in building public safety networks for state, regional and local governments. alcatel-lucent delivers complete, best-in-class communications solutions aligned with the most challenging mission imperatives of public safety networks, and tailored to meet the needs and requirements of governments.

For more information, visit www.alcatel-lucent.com/publicsafety

© 2012 Alcatel-Lucent. All rights reserved. Alcatel, Lucent, Alcatel-Lucent, and the Alcatel-Lucent logo are trademarks of Alcatel-Lucent. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Alcatel-Lucent assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information presented, which is subject to change without notice. Copyright 2012 Alcatel-Lucent. All rights reserved. M2012104738 (November)