Broadband  |  2026-05-21

ETSI Launches new Technical Committee on Critical Communications Systems

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

FORMAL ETSI ANNOUNCEMENT: During the first meeting, the newly formed TC CCS elected officials representing public‑sector, industry and specialist organisations across Europe.

ETSI today announced the creation of a new Technical Committee on Critical Communications Systems (TC CCS), reinforcing its commitment to the advancement of secure and resilient critical communication in Europe and globally. The inaugural kick-off meeting of the committee brought together over 50 participating constituencies from across the critical communications ecosystem. Part of the work will be carried over from the now closed ETSI committee TCCE while new work items will primarily be focusing on supporting the creation of the European Critical Communication System EUCCS.


The immediate focus of the group is the maintenance and evolution of the TETRA standard and the development of international standards for mission‑critical narrowband and broadband communications. These two pillars form the core of the committee’s work, ensuring that critical communications users can rely on secure, interoperable and future‑proof technologies.


During the first meeting, the newly formed TC CCS elected officials representing public‑sector, industry and specialist organisations across Europe. Ari Toivonen from Suomen Erillisverkot was elected as Chair, Renaud Mellies from the French Ministry of Interior, in charge of broadband and David Chater‑Lea from Sepura Ltd, in charge of narrowband, were elected as Vice Chairs. The three officials are also members of The Critical Communications Association (TCCA), a long term ETSI partner.

The committee brings together the whole ecosystem of critical communications, from governments to regulators, emergency services, mobile network operators, military organisations, transportation, utility and industrial sectors. It will collect and specify operational and technical requirements from these stakeholders to ensure that future standards support resilient, interoperable and secure communications capabilities across increasingly critical converged communications infrastructures.
A closer collegial relationship with other European and international standards bodies to promote alignment and avoid duplication of work is a foundational aspect of the TC’s remit. It will also prepare specifications and reports in support of the European Critical Communications System (EUCCS), as part of its broader broadband related activities.

Key responsibilities will include:

  • TETRA evolution: Continuing the maintenance and enhancement of the globally deployed ETSI TETRA standard while supporting migration pathways toward future broadband and hybrid communications environments.
  • Mission-critical broadband: Developing international standards that ensure secure, interoperable and resilient broadband services for public safety and other critical sectors.
  • Stakeholder requirements: Collecting and specifying operational and technical requirements from governments, regulators, emergency services, industry and other sectors.
  • European Critical Communications System: Supporting the development of specifications and reports for Europe’s future critical communications infrastructure.
  • Interoperability and standard alignment: Collaborating with European and international standards bodies to promote harmonised, interoperable approaches and minimise duplication across critical communications initiatives.

 

“ETSI TC CCS marks the concrete beginning of a new chapter for critical communications standardisation in Europe as we prepare for EUCCS deployment by 2030”, said Renaud Mellies, Vice Chair of TC CCS.

“The ETSI TETRA standard is widely used worldwide by public safety agencies with more than 120 countries using dedicated TETRA networks. In addition to secure and resilient network communications, now quantum safe, it also offers direct peer-to-peer critical communications without the need for a supporting network in situations such as natural disasters and emergencies,” said Ari Toivonen, Chair of TC CCS. “We see the new TC CCS as a means to further strengthen ETSI’s role in supporting secure, interoperable and resilient communications systems for public safety, defence, transportation, utilities and industry across Europe and internationally.”


Stakeholders and interested parties will also have the opportunity to meet members of TC CCS and continue discussions at Critical Communications World, where the committee’s work will be presented and examined.