Zetron is committed to the development and adoption of a variety of types of open standards, including Project 25 (P25), digital mobile radio (DMR) and Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA). This is because products that adhere to open standards typically offer higher levels of interoperability and customer choice than products based on proprietary protocols do.
Open Standards and Why They Matter
Open standards are developed by industry organizations whose role it is to define and document sets of agreed-upon protocols that manufacturers of public-safety equipment can then apply to their products. Products that adhere to open standards can interoperate together, even if they are from different manufacturers.
By contrast, proprietary equipment that does not utilize open standards might not support interoperability and can considerably limit customer choice. This is because a customer who buys a product based on proprietary protocols might only be able to communicate across multiple jurisdictions if they use the same vendor’s proprietary offerings.
The limitations imposed by proprietary equipment can create serious problems. Indeed, a lack of interoperability was cited as a main reason for communication failures that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and during 9/11. Since these tragic events, and in part because of them, significant progress has been made in recent years to finalize open standards. The P25 open standards-based Console Subsystem Interface (CSSI) is one such example. The CSSI is being implemented by a growing number of manufacturers of radio networks and dispatch systems. As a result, an increasing number of customers who select a radio network that utilizes the CSSI can choose any dispatch system that also uses the CSSI.
Zetron’s Support for Open Standards
Zetron supports open standards by developing products that are open-standards compliant. Zetron is also involved in many of open-standards organizations, including, but not limited to those listed below.
These are the reasons why Zetron is an advocate of open standards and why Zetron testified to the U.S. House of Representatives Sub-Committee on Technology and Innovation on the value of open standards. Zetron is actively involved in many of the open standards organizations, including, but not limited to:
- Project 25 Compatibility
Zetron has played a leading role both in the development of P25 standards and in the development of dispatch systems that interface with other P25-compliant equipment.
Zetron systems that support P25 include the Acom EVO Advanced Communications system, the MAX Dispatch system, and the Series 4000 Communication Control System.
- Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Compatibility
Digital mobile radio (DMR) is a globally available, open digital radio standard that was developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) for professional mobile radio users. The Digital Mobile Radio Association is a global organization that is focused on making DMR the most widely supported digital radio standard for the business world.
As a category 1 member of the DMR Association, Zetron is working with leading radio, console and network suppliers to define and develop multi-vendor, open-standard interfaces that include dispatch consoles. Zetron's DCS-5020 Digital Console System supports DMR (Tier II) conventional. In addition, Zetron's Acom EVO and MAX Dispatch console platforms incorporate the latest IP-based wireline DMR (Tier III) trunking interfaces.
- TETRA Compatibility
Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) is an open standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). The TETRA standard defines a series of open interfaces, as well as services and facilities that enable independent manufacturers to develop infrastructure and terminal products that can fully interoperate with each other.
Zetron is an active member of TETRA associations across the world, including the TETRA Critical Communications Association (TCCA) and the Australian TETRA Forum.
Zetron's Acom EVO - Advanced Communications system and DCS-5020 Digital Console System both support connectivity to TETRA networks.