n Coverage: This is the most important parameter, considering that enterprises would want to have his entire area of his business operation covered by an operator. The larger the coverage, the better for the enterprise. Most of the operators have a decent coverage having multiple sites in major metros. For example, Agrani covers Mumbai through three sites, whereas Chennai/Bangalore/Hyderabad/Pune are covered by one site each which is strategically located. One should go with the operator with multi-city coverage. Agrani has a wide network that covers metro and mini-metro cities. Mobilkom offers services in Delhi, Shimla, and Dhanbad.

n Network Quality: Enterprises should check out if operators have fully redundant networks. Grade of services should be around 5 percent, which some operators offer by a judicious network and spectrum planning. This means that operators should have a mechanism for efficient transportation of voice traffic and compression of the signal tone, which is essential to the operation of the mobile radio equipment without compromising reliability or quality.

n Price: Though most of the operators offer services on more or less same rates, but you can demand a special prices. Compare the rates offered by various operators. As handsets are not available in the open market, they command a uniform price.

n Additional Features and Data Capability: See if the radio trunking operator is providing services beyond plain voice. For example, logistics companies should see that the operator has automatic vehicle location (AVL) system in place for better fleet management.

The Western Railways recently deployed this system for passenger information on local trains in Mumbai. Operators are even ready to provide services to airline companies to offer flight updates to customers which can be displayed at prominent places.

Check out if operators provide services like group calls, individual calls, subgroup calls, broadcast calls, include calls, late entry, priority calls, acknowledged calls—own and third-party call diversion, data calls, emergency calls, dynamic group number assignment, dual-mode operation call alert, unanswered calls.

n Capacity to Scale up: This is important considering the increasing demand of the corporate. Any operator who has the resources to increase the existing capacity to accommodate the enhanced requirement should be considered.

n Confidentiality of Communication: User should take an undertaking from the operators to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of information that is carried in the network. Usually users in the same talk group are assigned the exclusive use of a private voice channel. The ability to combine multiple departments or agencies under one system while maintaining independent operations is the cornerstone of radio trunking.

n Price of Service: This is an important criteria, but most of the operators charge almost uniformly and they even offer some corporate discounts. Typically monthly rental is Rs 750 per month per handset. Needless to say this comes with unlimited talk time. Operators even offer cheaper rates if the service is taken on a long-term basis. Price of Radios and Accessories.

n Channel Efficiency: A trunked radio system is inherently capable of providing more efficient channel usage as compared to other competing services. Radio trunking users can have reliable, quick access to a channel during emergencies and avail of advanced features to help ensure that these calls will get through. Many vendors/operators offer the dynamic regrouping feature. This feature allows the system to reassign units so that users can talk between departments for special events. In case radios are lost or stolen, they can be disabled remotely by the central controller.