Press Review

Can Tetra and Tetrapol Coexist?

The president of Tetrapol Forum visited Hungary on January 26. His visit was due to the fact that the Interior Ministry carries out a Tetrapol test parallel to the last phase of a previous Tetra test. We asked Hubert Azémard how the professional Tetrapol trunk radio system used mainly by emergency organisations could co-operate with the already existing Tetra systems.

- The Schengen Group made a resolution that accepts both the Tetra and the Tetrapol systems, therefore, emergency organisations are free to chose. France, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania voted for the Tetrapol system, while Finland and Holland selected the Tetra system. Both systems operate on a frequency range reserved for emergency organisations, hence the task is to solve the co-operation between the two systems in border areas. Both producers and clients, i.e. emergency organisations, have already taken part in this project.

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Formerly the ETSI preferred the Tetra system, because this system guarantees a more reliable and faster data transmission in a national network and complies with other data communication systems. Since this GSM standard system was basically designed for commercial network service providers, it may guarantee a cost-effective operation, as well. The Tetra systems, however, have been installed for minor test purposes only.

First, we analysed the clients' needs and realised that those needs varied country by country. Consequently, the first task is to identify the needs of emergency organisations in neighbouring countries then to harmonise them. As a result of the discussions with clients it has become obvious that both the Tetra and the Tetrapol system could meet the requirements and the co-operation between the two systems could be solved.

- When do you think the co-operation can be realised?

- There are already solutions for some of the needs, while others should be worked on for another year or so. The fact is that the producer is committed to the co-operation of the two systems.

- Which producers deal with Tetrapol systems?

- AMC, CS Telecom, Daimler-Chrysler Aerospace, Matra Nortel Communications, Dassault Electronique, Mier, Siemens, Velec and WPI Husky produce total network structures or some elements, but there re a lot of producers of terminals and end-devices. Of course, I could mention a lot more companies in the areas of system-integration, data communication solutions, accessories, or education.

- ETSI has already acknowledged the Tetra system as a standard. Will the Tetrapol system also become a standard?

- This is not an essential issue, so we haven't dealt with it. Although emergency organisations, which form approximately 35% of the total market for professional radio systems, had only acknowledged ETSI standard systems until 1988, the Tetra and Tetrapol systems have been considered as equal ever since. In the wake of long debates clients have gradually accepted that standard or equivalent systems should be applied. This approach supports open competition so that each client could select the most relevant system.

- What are the plans for the further development of Tetrapol systems? Are new generations under progress? The Tetrapol system is at the same technological level as the Tetra or the GSM. All the producers within the Tetrapol Forum work on the development of a 3rd generation system. The first 3rd generation systems will be available in the market within 2 years. Terminals and networks will go through massive changes. Networks (including the Tetrapol system) will apply IP-based communications.

Extract from Számítástechnika February, 8, 2000,