Having entered the Indian and Asian markets, to make a strong mark, the TETRA Association for the first time organized its World Congress outside Europe, in Hong Kong. The four-day TETRA World Congress 2008 (TWC) was held from 26-29 May.

In the opening session Phil Godfrey, chairman, TETRA Association, said: “TETRA continues to go from strength to strength, and the last twelve months have witnessed a further 38% growth in the overall market. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for TETRA with 98% annual growth. Also, it is present in more than 100 countries worldwide.”

TETRA Association CEO, Phil Kidner said: “The interest in TETRA technology is now coming from all regions of the world, but none more so than Asia, where the enthusiasm and speed of adoption is remarkable. We will continue to work on behalf of the TETRA industry and our members to showcase the technology around the world, and to ensure that its benefits are accessible to all.”

Experts from TETRA biggies including Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Sepura, EADS, Rohde & Schwarz, Rohill, Tyco Electronics, Selex Communications, Comptel, and Mentura presented unique features of TETRA and opportunities available for it in different verticals like defense, police, civic departments and public works, railways, oil and gas, airport, public safety, disaster management, fire, paramedical department, etc.

Introducing TETRA
Ranko Pinter, market information manager, TETRA Association and director of Ranpin Marketing Services, said, “Traits of TETRA including guaranteed and efficient service under normal conditions, as well as during incidents and disasters; semi-duplex, PTT operation; rapid group communications; specific functionalities like dispatching, emergency calls, call monitoring, dynamic group management, and ambience listening; higher levels of security; comprehensive data services like status, SDS, circuit data, packet data, multi-slot packet data, and wideband data (in TETRA R2 – available 2009); and robust, intrinsically safe equipments are making the technology successful.”

Motorola utilized the occasion to unveil its MOTOA4 mission critical devices and solutions. John Gherghetta, corporate vice president, Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Motorola Government and Public Safety, said, “It (TETRA) is entering a new phase with advances in areas such as enhanced applications and data capabilities. And Motorola is expanding its TETRA footprint not only in public safety, but also in other markets such as transportation.” The TETRA vendor also introduced the smallest body-worn TETRA Covert Radio- TCR1000.

Sepura launched its STP8000 series of hand-portables, designed to function in physically challenging environments where public safety, military, transport, and utility workers demand ruggedness and durability.

The business strategy of customization was highlighted by the achievement made by EADS in China. The country's rapid development presented several challenges in providing effective communications for new rail networks. Dispatching and network management systems for metro networks had special requirements, all of which were met successfully by building dedicated applications on top of standard TETRA infrastructure via the applications programming interface (API) and peripheral equipment interface (PEI). Also, India hopes to gain from the Chinese experience for its own developmental projects.

On the opening of the plenary session, Phil Godfrey of TETRA Association said, “We are delighted that Hong Kong is hosting the 10th World Congress, and providing the opportunity to showcase the vibrant and innovative Asia Pacific market.”

John Gherghetta in his presentation on TETRA's Future in a Developing Communications World said, “Unique features, long-term vision, and active promotion by TETRA Association have made the technology successful. ”

TETRA for Indian Metro
During his presentation on TETRA–A Boon For Rail Users in India, Pankaj Gupta, general manager, Telecom, Mumbai Metro One said, “TETRA has a great future in MRTS in India, but vendors need to integrate and upgrade TETRA along with the varied and growing needs of MRTS. Other sectors that offer a lot of growth opportunities for TETRA are transportation, airports, security, and refinery.”

“With advertisements accounting for over 6% of revenue in a typical metro system, TETRA could be turned into a revenue generation opportunity if certain advancements are made in the technology. These enhancements could help reach rail audiences through advertisements in a powerful, direct, and effective way.”

Columbian delegate Jairo Fernando Paez, deputy-managing director, Transmilenio, too spoke on Developing a Fully Integrated TETRA System for a Bus-based Mass Transport System in his country. He said, “Exchange of operational data between the control center and buses like route identification, driver ID, time and operational information, text and voice messages, information to passengers regarding waiting time for the next bus, and information about incidents helped transform to a smooth transportation without traffic congestion in a mass transport system with 1070 buses.” A fully integrated TETRA system in the country has transformed the traffic to a smooth one.

“Unique features, long-term vision, and active promotion by TETRA Association have made the technology successful” John Gherghetta, corporate vice president, Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa, Motorola Government and Public Safety	“With advertisement accounting for over 6% revenue in a typical metro system, TETRA could be turned to be a revenue generation opportunity if certain advancements are made to the technology” Pankaj Gupta, general manager, Telecom, Mumbai Metro One	“Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for TETRA with a 98% annual growth. It is present in more than 100 countries worldwide” Phil Godfrey, chairman, TETRA Association

During his presentation Tetra For Offshore Oil Platforms, Henrik Jacobsen, sales manager, Zenitel, said, “The oil market will be very strong and in a great demand for many years to come. Monitoring, sending and receiving SDS, dynamic regrouping, individual and group calls, alarm applications, employee schedule, PA interface, maritime VHF interface/gateway, specific channels, etc are effectively performed by TETRA.”

Security and Global Mobility
In the beginning of the session, Using TETRA to Meet the Challenges of Security and Global Mobility, Richard Bobbett, CEO, Airwave, UK said, “Since the world's population is on the move, governments need to secure their borders. For this purpose, TETRA provides the effective IDM systems, multi-bearer technologies, seamless mobility, remote access to emails and other applications, and reduces bureaucracy and back office support with reduced cost and increased efficiency.” In the total contracts secured by the TETRA players in FY 2007-08, military sector constituted 3%, while confidential sectors and other government sectors worldwide constituted 4% each.

Professor Ole Lauridsen, CTO, Terma, developer of high-tech solutions, systems, and products for civilian and military applications, said in his presentation on TETRA from Vision to International success, “9/11 has meant a new threat environment. Further, big catastrophes have struck with major impact exhibiting the deficits of the national preparedness in all countries. Hence, most European countries already have or are in the process of implementing a national preparedness TETRA radio network ensuring all players can communicate in day-to-day activities and disasters.”

Kannan K
kannan@cybermedia.co.in
The author was hosted in Hong Kong