Broadband  |  2025-01-24

Mission Critical Communications: Advancing Standards, Addressing Regulatory Gaps

Source: Original content by Nina Myren

Mission critical broadband communication as the lifeline for during Public Protection and Disaster Relief

Nina Myren, TCCA Chair, TCCA Legal and Regulatory Working Group Representing DSB Norway, last year wrote an article 'Broadband communication as the lifeline for PPDR users' that highlighted the fact that the need for mission critical communication technology and standards are advancing, bu that regulatory developments lag behind. Myren wrote that over the past decade, the 3GPP standards have integrated requirements for mission critical communication within the 4G and 5G frameworks, enabling mobile broadband services for Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) users. These advancements have allowed PPDR users to benefit from the technological innovations driven by the 3GPP standardization process.

PPDR users demand secure and reliable communication services—anytime, anywhere. Compared to narrowband systems, broadband mission critical communication increasingly relies on the infrastructure and services of commercial Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). To ensure uninterrupted service access during network congestion, the implementation of Quality of Service, Priority, and Pre-emption (QPP) mechanisms is essential.

However, while mission critical communication technology and standards are advancing, regulatory developments lag behind. Despite the critical role of such communication in emergency services, there is currently no EU-level legislation mandating MNOs to prioritize it. This regulatory gap must be addressed. The implementation of QPP mechanisms often clashes with the European Union’s regulation on open internet access (2015/2120). Some countries, such as Finland, France, and Belgium, have established national exemptions, but this fragmented approach is insufficient.

She noted that The TCCA Legal and Regulatory Working Group’s white paper, Legal and Regulatory Aspects Regarding the Realisation of Quality of Service, Priority and Pre-emption (QPP) in Commercial Networks, highlights the inconsistencies in how EU regulations are interpreted and how QPP mechanisms are implemented across member states. TCCA recommends a broad exemption for PPDR operators from EU regulations to address these challenges.

The upcoming EU Critical Communication System (EUCCS), which aims to ensure cross-border interoperability, underscores the need for a harmonized approach to mission critical broadband services. Emergency services operating across borders or supporting neighboring countries must have seamless access to mission critical services in the host network. A consistent regulatory and technical framework for QPP is vital for the success of the EUCCS.

Current efforts to address mission critical roaming are underway through a joint task force comprising GSMA, TCCA, and BroadEU.net. This task force is developing proposals for implementing seamless roaming with QPP and Access Class Barring mechanisms.

Furthermore Myren said that the EUCCS initiative also has the potential to drive EU-level legislation on mission critical communication. Drawing inspiration from the well-regulated European Emergency Number "112," it is clear that priority, interoperability, and reliability are critical to emergency management. The "system of systems" concept underpinning EUCCS relies heavily on interoperability—not just across borders, but also within national systems from their inception and throughout their operational lifespan.

To achieve this, adherence to the 3GPP mission critical service standards is essential in the procurement of products and services. Sustainable testing and certification processes for mission critical communication solutions are crucial. TCCA, in collaboration with the Global Certification Forum (GCF), is working to establish certification processes for 3GPP MCX standard compliance and, eventually, interoperability. Additionally, TCCA provides procurement guidance through its model text library, encouraging government agencies and other organizations to include specific testing and certification requirements in their contracts.

It is important to understand that while early adopters may need to accept non-certified products due to the current lack of established certification processes, TCCA strongly advises that procurement contracts include provisions requiring suppliers to actively engage in certification efforts once they become available.

According to Myren, harmonized certification requirements will encourage vendors to prioritize global, interoperable deployments of mission critical communication systems based on 3GPP standards. The European initiative can serve as a catalyst, accelerating this global alignment and ensuring the reliability and availability of mission critical communication for emergency services.