Beyond replacement: Building the next generation of mission-critical communications

The debate over whether broadband will replace traditional radio has been going on for years. But the networks people rely on do not exist in isolation.

TETRA, DMR and other LMR systems continue to carry critical communications, while broadband is opening up new possibilities for data, video, applications and connectivity. So how do you bring the two together without losing what already works?

In this episode of Making Waves, Stuart Will and Lone Hansen are joined by Kaveh Hosseinzadeh, Managing Director of TASSTA, and Pascal Béglin, CEO of Streamwide, to explore what hybrid communications really mean for mission-critical operations.

The conversation moves beyond the replacement debate and into the practical realities of connecting existing PMR networks with broadband capabilities. Kaveh and Pascal discuss what customers are trying to achieve, why interoperability and mutual aid matter, and what Mission Critical Services (MCX) actually bring to people using these systems in the field.

They also look at the role of 3GPP standards, different approaches to integrating existing networks, and why the right solution depends on factors such as network size, coverage, operational requirements and the way communications are used.

What you’ll discover

• Why the LMR versus broadband debate may be missing the bigger picture
• What MCX means for end users beyond push-to-talk
• Why interoperability and mutual aid are central to hybrid communications
• What 3GPP standards bring to mission-critical communications
• What organisations need to consider when connecting existing PMR networks with broadband
• Why different operational environments call for different integration approaches
• Where AI could add new capabilities to mission-critical communications

About the guests

Kaveh Hosseinzadeh is Managing Director of TASSTA and has a background in TETRA, network integration and mission-critical communications. He has worked with radio systems and technologies across different markets and has focused on bringing traditional PMR capabilities together with MCX and broadband.

Pascal Béglin is CEO and co-founder of Streamwide. A telecommunications engineer, he has worked extensively with mission-critical broadband and MCX solutions, including deployments supporting public safety organisations in Europe and the US.

Connect & learn more https://tassta.com/
https://www.streamwide.com/en/home/

Timeline:
00:00   Podcast teaser
00:56   Welcome and introductions
02:42   Is LMR really being replaced?
04:20   Why hybrid makes sense
06:35   Solving the mutual aid challenge
10:05   What MCX adds
13:30   Why network integration matters
16:15   The role of 3GPP standards
19:35   From TETRA to hybrid
23:05   Choosing the right integration approach
26:45   Rapid fire: the future of mission-critical communications
30:15   Closing thoughts