TETRAPOL Features and Functionality

Multi-site open channel • Immediate channel access can be guaranteed to a • A radio channel can be
group of users over a wide area, even when the system temporarily dedicated to a
is heavily loaded or congested, such as during natural group of users for the
disasters or major accidents duration of their mission
• Multi-site open channels (MOCH) can be used as (however long that may be)
mutual-aid channels where different pre-defined • Authorised users of a
organisations can communicate with each other given MOCH are one or
• For instance police officers and firemen can more operational groups
coordinate their actions at the scene of a fire defined as one of the
• MOCH can also be set-up for the exclusive use of one MOCH attributes
organisation· They can be set up to respond in real time • Exclusive use is defined
to operational requirements, planned or unexpected over one or several radio
cells
• Resources are returned
to the pool of channels as
soon as the MOCH is
closed by an authorised
user
Talk group • Messages exchanged within a group of users do not • A talk group is a group of
mix with messages exchanged within another group, terminals and a geographic
therefore eliminating any risk of confusion or distraction area (ie radio cells) over
• People cannot overhear communications that have which it is valid
nothing to do with their business • A user can be member of
• For instance, traffic police will not monitor criminal several talk groups
police communications
Scanning • Users can monitor the communications of several • Supplementary service of
groups alternately the protocol
• For instance the chief of a police department may
want to monitor several different units
Talk group merging • This powerful feature can be used upon request to • Supplementary service of
allow immediate communication between teams who do the protocol
not communicate with each other under normal
circumstances.
• For instance, police and fire fighters at the scene of an
accident may need to coordinate their actions
• This greatly facilitates multi-disciplinary
communications
Dynamic group number • When people in the field are assigned to a new • Supplementary service of
assignment mission, their TETRAPOL radio terminal can be the protocol
dynamically updated over the air so that they can
participate to the communications resulting from this new
assignment
• This delivers flexibility and responsiveness regarding
operational changes, since people are not constrained to
a limited number of talkgroups pre-programmed in their
radio terminal
• For instance a fire engine reporting to district 1 may be
unexpectedly dispatched to a forest fire in district 2.
Even if its radio terminal would not recognise district 2
under normal circumstances, it may be reassigned to
district 2 over the air.
Individual call • Two people anywhere within the coverage of a • Priorities can be used to
TETRAPOL system can have a private conversation interrupt an on-going
• For instance, in a statewide TETRAPOL system, a private call

20.2.2009
 TETRAPOL Features and Functionality

superintendent in one county can have a private • The feature can be

conversation with a superintendent in another county. enabled/disabled on a per-
And an inspector going out of his jurisdiction for an user basis (defined in the
investigation is still reachable from his normal jurisdiction user profile)
Multi-party call • A private conversation can be extended to up to five • Location registers are
parties (similar to a telephone conference call) used to find the called
parties anywhere within the
system
PABX/PSTN call • People in the field can receive or place telephone calls • PABX/PSTN gateway·
(telephone interconnect) from their TETRAPOL terminal The feature can be
• This can eliminate the need to find a telephone booth enabled/disabled on a per-
or to have an additional mobile phone when they have to user basis (defined in the
reach people who are 'external' to the TETRAPOL user profile)
system (off-duty, outside the coverage area or ineligible • Calls can be
to use the system ...) unconditionally routed to
• Calls can be authorised by a dispatcher prior to their dispatcher first
establishment for better control of this service
• For instance the PABX of an hospital can be
connected to a TETRAPOL system so that rescuers at
the scene of an accident or disaster can call physicians
or other emergency personnel on their telephone
extension
Call forwarding • Calls can be automatically rerouted when people are • Supplementary service of
not available the protocol
• For instance a police officer leaving his car can
forward all his calls from his mobile radio to his portable
radio
Call transfer • This feature is similar to telephony and can be used to • Supplementary service of
control the establishment of certain types of the protocol
communications (for instance inbound/outbound
telephone calls) by authorised individuals (typically
dispatchers). They act as 'operators', connecting two
parties upon request from one of them.
Priority levels • Priority levels make sure that important calls are • Supplementary service of
always treated first in case of system congestion. the protocol
• These priorities may reflect a hierarchy (among people • Combination of priorities:
or departments) but also an operational situation • User priority
requiring special treatment of the call, whatever the • Talkgroup priority
hierarchy of the person. This second aspect is important • Recent-user priority
in situations such as a superintendent making a routine • Preemption priority
call vs a traffic police officer making an urgent call to • Retention priority
report an accident. Priority should be given to the traffic • User-selectable call
police officer although individually ranked in the system priority
below the superintendent. TETRAPOL makes this kind
• ...
of discrimination possible
Pre-emptive emergency call • In the most critical situations, when life is at risk, users • Frame stealing is used
can always call for help. Even if the TETRAPOL system on a traffic channel to force
is already fully used, the message gets through at once, transmitter interruption and
cutting off ongoing communications if necessary to re-allocate the resource
• Colleagues or dispatchers can immediately be notified to an emergency call
of the situation • Various parameters are
available to adapt to
different operational
requirements for handling
20.2.2009

Ambient listening
Direct mode
(ie 'simplex' channels)
emergency call
Direct mode with dual watch
Late entry
Talking party identification
End-to-end encryption
Secured over-the-air key
distribution
20.2.2009
TETRAPOL Features and Functionality
an emergency call (people
receiving the call, single-
cell or multi-cell call, ...)
• Transmission can be remotely and discreetly activated • Supplementary service of
on a TETRAPOL radio terminal. This means for instance the protocol
that a dispatcher who gets no answer or no news from a
radio terminal can monitor what is going on (shots,
voices, etc...). This is an important feature when people
are unable to use their radio, such as when they are
under attack, held hostage or injured
• Emergency calls can be placed even in areas where • The direct mode
coverage from the system is not planned for (for instance emergency frame is
in remote areas) transmitted on a pre-
• A person in a critical situation can always get help programmed channel
from colleagues within radio coverage, even from those monitored by all radio
who were not on the same direct mode channel (people terminals
no longer have to switch from channel to channel before
they can find somebody)
• For instance, when several teams are working
separately at the same place, this powerful feature will
warn everybody if something goes wrong
• Users who have switched to direct mode channels are • Dual watch still monitors
not isolated from the radio network and from their the control channel to
dispatchers as long as they are within the coverage of detect incoming calls
the TETRAPOL system.
• A user does not miss ongoing communications, even if • Supplementary service of
he arrives late in the TETRAPOL system (when the protocol
emerging from an underground car park or other area
without coverage) or if he was already engaged on a
different call
• Radio ID can be sent on each Push-To-Talk activation • Supplementary service of
so that a transmitting terminal can be immediately the protocol
identified. This helps dispatchers avoid confusion and
discourages misuse of the system
• Communications are protected from commercial and • Encryption algorithms
more sophisticated scanners may comply with
• Communications are encrypted within the whole TETRAPOL specifications
system: there is no weak section where communications or specific algorithms can
are transported in clear mode (for instance between a be used
switch and remote dispatcher consoles, or between
repeater sites and switches). This provides the highest
level of protection against eavesdropping
• Repeater sites do not need extra protection since they
do not need to include encryption modules
• Key loaders are no longer used to change encryption • Key management center
keys in the radio terminals • New encryption keys are
• This eliminates many important issues associated with automatically distributed
key loaders, such as errors when downloading new periodically to the terminals.
keys, missed terminals, loss of programming devices • Keys are distributed over-
used in the field ... the-air in an encrypted
• Keys can be renewed and downloaded in the format and following
terminals more often (typically daily) whatever the size of authentication procedures
the terminal fleet

User-friendly encryption
mechanisms
Mutual authentication
Protection against lost or stolen • Lost or stolen TETRAPOL terminals can be
terminals
Virtual private networking
Common platform for voice and • The same infrastructure and radio terminals are used
data communications
20.2.2009
TETRAPOL Features and Functionality
• It is not necessary to bring terminals back to reprogam
the encryption keys, therefore saving time and
eliminating downtime and disruption for users
• Users do not have to remember key selections, • Encryption can be
whether for voice or for data communications, because activated in direct mode but
this is done automatically by the system. They can fully it is a voluntary action from
concentrate on the operational aspects of their missions the users
and do not have to worry about the 'technical' ones
• Encryption is maintained and automatic while the
terminal roams through a nationwide system.
• For instance, with a nationwide TETRAPOL system,
narcotics officers can use end-to-end encrypted
communications anywhere and at any time without
having to do any manual action on their radio terminal
• A TETRAPOL system is protected against • Mutual authentication
sophisticated smart attacks, such as the intrusion of between system
unauthorised terminals by 'masquerading' or the use of a components
'decoy' infrastructure • Challenge response
mechanisms
• If the radio terminal was
neutralised over the air, either on a temporary basis (i.e. switched off, it is disabled
the terminal can return to normal operation after it as soon as it is switched on
receives the right command from the system) or on a (at the next registration
permanent basis (i.e. requiring subsequent maintenance transaction)
of the terminal)
• When terminals are lent to an organisation hosted on
a TETRAPOL system for the duration of a special event,
they can be disabled as soon as the event is over, even
before they are returned. This guarantees a strict control
of their use
• Different organisations can share capital expenditure • Technical, tactical and
and running costs while getting a better common system operational management
• Each organisation maintains full operational and functions are addressed
tactical independence and privacy separately
• Communications between organisations are possible • Tactical and operational
when required and if authorised at the system level functions are managed by
• Higher operational efficiency and responsiveness each organisation, technical
during mutual-aid operations management functions are
• A TETRAPOL system can reflect the administrative the responsibility of the
structure of each organisation in terms of its hierarchy, system 'operator'
functions and jurisdiction
• Each organisation can have a guaranteed quota of
resources, even when the system is heavily loaded, such
as following a major incident
• Integrated voice and data
for voice and data communications solution
• This is a simple solution for users since they do not
have to switch between voice and data channels or
terminals.
• Vehicles and radio sites are not overloaded with
equipment
• Costs can be saved on
• spare parts
• training of maintenance personnel

Mobile data
Connection to other
telecommunication networks
Similar audio quality in clear
and encrypted modes
High-performing vocoder in
noisy environments
20.2.2009
TETRAPOL Features and Functionality
• system supervision, installation and maintenance
• site equipment and radio terminals
• Databases can be accessed and updated in real time • Integrated data services·
from the field, eliminating discrepancies or interaction electronic mail
with a third-party. • status· short messages
• People are relieved from paperwork in the field since (SMS)
they can immedialtely update databases, send reports, • IP
etc • Standard data interfaces
• Voices messages are prone to misunderstandings, • APIs (Application
especially in a noisy environment. Data messages are Programming Interfaces)
not, so people always get the right address or the right are available for the
name development of specific
• A data transmission can be much richer than a voice data applications
communication, including maps, text, pictures, etc.
People in the field can get more information about their
assignments, which can increase safety and
effectiveness
• Voice traffic can be reduced, in turn reducing the
background noise for radio operators in cars and control
rooms, enabling them to concentrate on important radio
traffic
• Information is distributed more selectively. Only people
who read the message know it, whereas a voice
message can be overheard by more people, perhaps
even those who should not hear it (eg a suspect may
hear communications about his criminal record while in a
police car)
• Information can be stored if the addressee is not
available, whereas a voice message would have to be
repeated later
• A TETRAPOL system can extend an existing • TETRAPOL
information system specifications include
• Past investments can be preserved various gateways to other
• Field personnel can get access to information systems networks (TETRAPOL
they are already familiar with networks, other PMR
• People in the field get a real 'mobile office' networks, Packet Data
• They do not have to return to their office to complete Networks, PTSN/PABX
their admin jobs (job tickets, database queries, e-mails, networks, ...)
reports, ...)
• Since encryption does not degrade the audio quality, • The voice is already
users can activate it whenever required to protecting transmitted in a binary
themselves and/or their missions format in clear mode. Since
• Encrypted voice is always crisp and clear. It does not the digital encryption is
impair efficiency since repetitions of messages are not applied to already-digital
necessary information, it is not
• Excellent speaker recognition helps team members noticeable to the user
engaged in a critical operation to communicate quickly
with each other, without having necessarily to identify
themselves each time they talk
• Noisy backgrounds (shouting crowds, fire engines, • RP-CELP vocoder
sirens, ...) are suppressed • 14 Mips
• This eliminates the audio 'discomfort' created by
interfering background noises
• Messages are received crisp and clear all the time,

Flexibility / modularity
Wider radio coverage than
competing solutions
Same radio coverage for voice
and data communications,
whether clear or encrypted
Data transmissions do not
require additional sites
Spectrum-efficient solution
20.2.2009
TETRAPOL Features and Functionality
avoiding repetitions or misunderstandings
• This means greater efficiency and less stress for radio
operators
• TETRAPOL systems can adapt to / grow with • TETRAPOL
organisations, serving local to nationwide users specifications leave open
• Star, daisy-chain, and meshed topologies are possible the size and the topology of
• Local systems can be connected later on into a the systems developped by
seamless system the manufacturers
• Fewer repeater sites are necessary to cover a given • Oustanding sensitivity (-
area 121 dBm) thanks to
• Large radio cells suit rural areas where dense cellular • narrow channels (12.5
architectures are not an economically viable solution kHz)
• Time can be saved on system engineering, installation • robust modulation
and maintenance activities: wide-area systems can be (GMSK)
set-up more quickly • sophisticated channel
• Costs can be saved on coding (FEC) including
• system engineering, installation and maintenance block coding, cyclic coding
• leased lines and interleaving· coherent
• site rentals demodulation
• civil work • non-transparent base
• site equipment stations
• Finding repeater sites is not an issue when going from • non-transparent packet
analog to digital. System operators can reuse their data transmissions
existing analog sites without having to add new ones and • Sensitivity can be even
can even reduce the number of sites in some cases further enhanced with
antenna diversity
techniques
• RF power amplifiers with
high efficiency (Class C)
• Users do not have to worry about getting a good signal • Different codings for
from a repeater before transmitting data or encrypted voice and data, with a much
voice. They get an efficient and reliable communication stronger protection for data
tool whenever required • Non-transparent packet
data transmissions
• Residual error rate (ie
quality) is the prime
concern in a TETRAPOL
system, not raw data rate
• Radio engineering is identical for voice and data • Different codings for
communications, whether clear or encrypted voice and data, with a much
• Engineering is easier, quicker and cheaper stronger protection for data
• The later introduction of data services or encryption in • Non-transparent packet
a voice system does not require re-engineering of the data transmissions
system (from a coverage point of view). Systems can be • Residual error rate (ie
upgraded smoothly quality) is the prime
concern in a TETRAPOL
system, not raw data rate
• Users get more traffic capacity within the same radio • 12-cell reuse pattern
spectrum. This may eliminate channel congestion thanks to an Carrier-to-
problems Interference ratio (C/I) of 15
• For example, a TETRAPOL solution can more than dB
triple the traffic capacity that would be available with a 25 • Simulcast capabilities·
kHz analog wide-area system Trunking techniques
• 12.5 kHz minimum

Trunking (automatic and
dynamic allocation of system
resources)
Simulcast capabilities
Cellular radio coverage
Seamless roaming
12.5 kHz solution
20.2.2009
TETRAPOL Features and Functionality
requirement in all
configurations (direct mode,
repeated direct mode, trunk
mode)
• People do not have to think in terms of radio channels • Trunking of resources is
anymore. Operational entities are the only things they part of the system protocol
have to be familiar with for their communications (like (message trunking, quasi-
'traffic police', 'criminal police', 'fire department', 'chief' transmission trunking)
etc)
• They get a more user-friendly tool
• They do not have to select radio channels anymore,
whether for voice or for data transmissions, clear or
encrypted
• They do not run the risk of selecting or staying on the
wrong channel
• They do not notice the failure of a radio channel, since
another one would be automatically allocated by the
system
• Systems can be rolled out even when few channels • The limited impact of
are available, as in most big cities inter-symbol interference in
• With a simulcast configuration, moving from one radio a TETRAPOL system
cell to another is totally imperceptible for all the people eases the engineering
involved in the communication issues of simulcast
• For instance, with a simulcast TETRAPOL system configurations
installed along a highway, highway patrols involved in a
common operation over tens of kilometres will enjoy
uninterrupted communications, although they may be
quickly crossing radio cells
• A radio cell can be extended to difficult areas (for
instance, behind a group of buildings) where there is no
radio coverage otherwise
• Local and individual communications can be better • TETRAPOL is based on
distributed among / confined within radio cells a cellular architecture
• The overall system capacity is increased concept
• Traffic within one jurisdiction does not disturb traffic • 12-cell reuse pattern with
within an adjacent one C/I = 15 dB
• Cell sizes can be adapted to the type of coverage • Mixing pure cellular
(mobile or portable) coverage and simulcast is
• Better grade of service possible
• Late-entry service
• Controls channels
broadcast information about
neighbouring cells
• Users do not have to worry about channel selection or • Cellular concept with
repeater coverage while roaming within the system mobility management
• A dispatcher is always able to reach people in the right • Home Location
cells, even when they leave their jurisdiction Registers, Visitor Location
Registers
• Registration mechanisms
with attach/detach
• Cell Selection /
Reselection mechanisms
• Late-entry service
• TETRAPOL systems can easily fit in current PMR • GMSK modulation with
 TETRAPOL Features and Functionality

frequency plans and rasters without prior spectrum BT = 0,25

refarming, which is a complex and lengthy process
• Analog channels can be easily converted into digital
channels. System conversion can be planned on a per-
channel basis and an analog repeater can be simply
swapped for a digital one
• Simple system configurations (Direct Mode, Repeated
Direct Mode) do not require more than 12.5 kHz
GMSK modulation • Even clear communications cannot be monitored with • GMSK with BT=0,25·
commercial scanners (digital radio transmission) Constant envelop
• Easy implementation of high-output RF power • Class-C RF power
amplifiers increases possible radio coverage amplifier
• Power in adjacent 12.5
kHz channel: - 60 dBc (-70
dBc in an adjacent 25 kHz
channel)
FDMA on narrow channels • Large cells are available for rural areas, reducing the • Limited impact of inter-
number of repeater sites needed to cover a given area symbol interferences
• Simulcast configurations are possible • No equalisation required
• Saving radio channels when required in the TETRAPOL radio
• Allowing fully-transparent hand-overs receivers
• Good intrinsic protection again the loss of a radio • Receiver noise limited
channel (shutdown, jamming, failure, ...) at a repeater due to the use of narrow
site channels
• It only slightly reduces the overall system capacity • No tricky multi-slot
(loss of one communication resource only) compared to synchronisation constraints
a TDMA system where several communication resources
are lost when a radio channel is inoperative (eg four with
TETRA)
• Direct mode (ie 'walky-talky' mode) is higly-reliable
• The same radio terminals can be used in any
environment (urban areas, hilly terrains, simulcast
systems, ...)
Peaceful coexistence with other • Radio spectrum can be used at best (no need to leave • GMSK modulation with
PMR systems radio channels unused between existing ETS 300-113 BT = 0,25· Constant
systems and new TETRAPOL systems).. This means no envelop
wasted traffic capacity • Power in adjacent 12.5
• During a transition period, a user can run its analog kHz channel: - 60 dBc (-70
system and its new TETRAPOL system in parallel on the dBc in an adjacent 25 kHz
same repeater sites channel)
• Compliance with
European ETSI standard
ETS 300 113

20.2.2009