Sepura is a platinum sponsor at TWC05 and will exhibiting on stands D1 and D2. Here, UK sales director David Taylor talks about an application that the company will be highlighting at the event: covert communications.
The evolution of secure, robust and the most effective PMR is now be seen in the guise of TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio). With TETRA, mobile communications have far wider reaching capabilities and advantages than could have ever been thought of, let alone achieved within analogue systems. Covert communications is no exception, in fact, users of mission critical surveillance systems can achieve far more from TETRA mobile radio schemes than probably ever dreamed of.
TETRA mobile radio also heightens security over air, with built-in encryption and automatic verification of users, enabling further security for all users to be ‘visible’ if and when required. What’s more, with the latest TETRA enabled products (including covert equipment) having built in GPS (Global Positioning System) which provides 99% tracking ability, even when shielded. Therefore, officer safety is heightened as is the ability to track team operatives in detail.
Manufacturers, such as Sepura, have also realised the importance of safety measures when operating in a covert environment, to the extent that design applications such as lockable accessory connectors have been produced. For instance, a headset disconnected during action could be more than inconvenient! Further safety measures have been introduced with emergency key functionality ensuring help is on hand whenever it is required. In addition, should a terminal fall into the wrong hands, extra security measures have been built in to disable the terminal remotely.
TETRA also provides the ability to work in talk groups and interoperate with other services, colleagues or agencies not just within a local area, but on a national basis. Covert and surveillance teams can also separate themselves from standard traffic within police control via separate talk groups, therefore location of users and details can be kept independent. Yet if required such teams can work with other groups.
Historically the propagation of analogue radio, at best, was approximately 10km, meaning that within a convoy the radio communications could often break down between the ‘eyeball’ and his or her team. This range restriction could often compromise the monitoring of a suspect. TETRA diminishes this completely with a far greater distance of communication enabled, allowing the entire surveillance group to be within the transmission link and in real time. In fact, operation commanders need not actually be in the field, but can watch and interact remotely giving true control of any situation no matter where they are.
With encrypted picture messaging, a surveillance operative can send an image, taken covertly, of a suspect to his team, instantly and in colour. Accessing data sources to run checks on suspects can also be achieved in real time from PDAs within a covert environment.
Understanding and believing that radio communications can be relied upon is now a reality with TETRA. Compromise is no longer an option within the mission critical arena and the specialist demands of a surveillance operation can now be met completely with the highest levels of security and functionality, enabling not only a safer, but more efficient operation.
