Please install Flash and turn on Javascript.

Products, Solutions & Services

Telecommunications

TETRA

TErrestrial Trunked RAdio (TETRA)

TErrestrial Trunked RAdio (TETRA) is an open digital trunked radio standard defined by the European Telecommunications Standardisation Institute (ETSI) to meet the needs of the most demanding professional mobile radio users.

TETRA is the most modern solution for Terrestrial Trunking Radio Systems for Public Access Mobile Radio (PAMR) or Private Mobile Radio (PMR) requirements offering more features than have ever before been available for the PAMR and PMR sector, and many essential features that cannot be supported by other cellular networks, such as Group Calls (one to many), dispatcher facilities, Air Interface Encryption, End to End Encryption, simultaneous voice and data radio communication, Direct Mode Operation (also known as talkaround or back to back operation) as well as network management and billing capabilities.

TETRA is a comprehensive product line-up including BS, switches, operational and management control, portables, mobiles and dispatch consoles. All of these have the ability to be simply and easily reprogrammed whenever there is a system enhancement, or to meet future requirements as the new technology evolves. Since the system's functions are implemented by software, future developments and enhancements to the system can be easily introduced without disturbing the network.

A TETRA system can be scaled from a single Switching Center network covering a large region up to multi-Switching Center networks on a national scale. It can easily be expanded through additional Switching Centers, Base Station sites, extra channels, Dispatchers or other resources as required. TETRA systems can serve totally separate groups of users with the same resources. These groups can have their own Virtual Private Network with their own dispatch and network management functions. Whilst occupying parts of the same physical network, the VPN will be transparent and invisible to other network users.

The main TETRA system technical characteristics are:

  • TDMA Transmission method (four voice or data channels in one carrier of 25 KHz)
  • Trunked mode operation
  • pi/4 QPSK modulation
  • Frequency range 380-400 MHz for Public Safety, 410-430 MHz and 450-470MHz for Commercial systems
  • Channel spacing 25 KHz
  • Duplex Spacing 10 MHz

TETRA is mainly addressed to:

  • Public Service Providers
  • Public Safety Organizations (Police, Ambulance, Fire Brigade, Port Police, Customs etc.)
  • Transportation (Airports, Railways, City and Intercity Transportation etc.)
  • Commercial networks (Carriage companies, TAXI, municipalities, industries, oil, gas or water pipelines etc.)
Start of page

TETRA system supports a multitude of voice, data and supplementary services including:

Voice Services
Group Call
Private Call
Broadcast Call
Emergency Call
PSTN, GSM, PABX Interconnect Call

Data Services
Status Messaging
Emergency Alarm
Short Data Transport Service (SDTS)
Alphanumeric Text Service (ATS)
IP Packet Data

Supplementary Services
Priority Call
Late Entry
Talking Party Identification
Dynamic Group Number Assignment
Barring of Incoming Calls
Barring of Outgoing Calls
Discreet Listening

The benefits of a TETRA based communications solution consist of:

  • Integrated voice and data
  • Spectrum efficiency
  • Harmonized frequency spectrum throughout Europe
  • High data capacity on demand
  • Excellent audio quality
  • Acceptance all over the world
  • Multi-vendor sourcing
  • Virtual Private Networks
  • Inherently secure
  • Direct Mode Operation

TETRA system supports a wealth of data applications, building on the TETRA Short Data and IP Packet Data transport mechanisms such as Fleet Management, Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) via GPS, Wireless Database Enquires, Wireless Internet, SCADA applications etc. that already are available to the end users by the most European TETRA operators.

TETRA is the only ETSI standard for digital PMR/PAMR. It meets user needs for interoperability resulting in a truly independent multi-vendor environment to the benefits of users and industry concerned. The PAMR market is relatively small compared to the market size of mass technologies such as GSM and 3G, however it is an attractive market and is characterized by much higher Average Revenue Per Users (ARPUs) and subsequently lower risk.

Start of page