Mobile broadband services, including push-to-talk voice, data, and video, continue to evolve, enhancing our ability to leverage next-generation wireless networks and supplement traditional land mobile radio services. These mission-critical services continue to evolve through the 3GPP standards process, and their implementation requires careful planning. Each organization’s needs are unique to its operational environment. Implementation must address technology, economics, operations, governance, and costs, as well as integration with existing wireless and information systems. Key considerations such as coverage, capacity, security, reliability, interoperability, training, and deployment schedules must also be addressed. Accordingly, this process requires extensive analysis, time, effort, and commitment, along with the buy-in and support of stakeholders and sponsors.

Federal Engineering has extensive experience with small, medium, and large network deployments, and we understand the complexities that mobile broadband services bring along with their benefits. Key challenges that must be addressed include:

• Availability, coverage, and resiliency of LTE and Wi-Fi networks
• Switching delays for networks and users
• Costs for services, licensing, data planning, and ongoing support
• Lack of agency experience with these services
• End-to-end encryption (where required), security protocols
• Lack of interoperability between commercial carriers
• No or limited off-network capability
• Need for hardened devices