LA-RICS inks deal with Motorola Solutions for public-safety LTE network

oard members for the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System Authority (LA-RICS) today approved a $175 million contract with Motorola Solutions to construct a public-safety LTE network that is scheduled to be completed next summer.

"Proceeding with this wireless public-safety broadband network for the Los Angeles region will assist LA-RICS in fulfilling its goal of providing the finest public-safety-grade, mission-critical communications to the region's public-safety professionals," LA-RICS Executive DIrector Patrick Mallon said in a prepared statement.

Funded primarily with $154.6 million in federal grants from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the 231-site LA-RICS network will be the largest public-safety broadband network in the U.S. until FirstNet begins its deployments in earnest. Under existing NTIA rules, LA-RICS must complete the public-safety LTE project by Aug. 15, 2015.

LA-RICS will use the 20 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum licensed to FirstNet under the terms of a spectrum-lease agreement that was signed last August. The primary condition of that agreement is that LA-RICS officials will ensure that the LTE network being built by Motorola Solutions will meet the interoperability and reliability standards of the FirstNet system.

LA-RICS is one of only four entities that has signed a spectrum-lease agreement with FirstNet to use the 20 MHz of contiguous spectrum in the 700 MHz band that is licensed to FirstNet for the purpose of supporting a nationwide broadband network for public safety. As a condition of that agreement, the LA-RICS project must integrate with the nationwide LTE network that FirstNet eventually will build.

As part of the new contract, Motorola Solutions will provide an evolved packet core, a Band Class 14 eNodeB for each of the 231 sites, and 1,000 VML 700 LTE vehicle modems "for the initial testing" of the LA-RICS LTE network, according to a Motorola Solutions press release.

“Public-safety agencies throughout the Los Angeles region will benefit tremendously from a new LTE broadband network delivering mission-critical data every day," Mark Moon, Motorola Solutions executive vice president, said in a prepared statement. "The region places a high priority on its first responders, and this broadband public-safety network will help them communicate more effectively with advanced video and data capabilities.

LA-RICS is a modern, wireless voice and data communications system that will support 34,000 first responders and protect the region’s ten million residents and 26 million annual visitors.

"Motorola Solutions knows the importance of public-safety communications, and we greatly appreciate being chosen by LA-RICS to use our experience to build an advanced data network as well as an interoperable radio system to serve the entire region.”

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