LTE  |  2022-08-16

Danish Test Riders Benefit from Hytera PoC Communications in Tour de France 2022

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

For this event, Northcom, supplied the association with Hytera PNC370 PoC radios.

In July 2022, the Tour de France was held for the first time ever with the tour starting in Denmark. In this connection, Hytera's partner in Denmark, Norhtcom leased Hytera PoC radios to the Norwegian association Idretten Skaper Sjanser.

Idretten Skaper Sjanser is a Norwegian association that helps drug addicts get back to life through exercise and sports. Through this, those affected by abuse get a community. Idretten Skaper Sjanser is owned by the Norwegian Cycling Association, the Norwegian Ski Association and the Norwegian Equestrian Association. The association collaborates with local clubs associated with these three associations.

A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation), which is behind the Tour de France, had invited Idretten Skaper Sjanser to test the stages at this year's Tour de France. A team of 35 participants tested 2 out of 3 of the Danish stages before the actual Tour de France riders had to go through. During the test ride, officials communicated with the riders from their vehicles. In order to communicate with the riders, the drivers needed to be able to communicate via radio communication with full coverage over the entire route.

For this event, Northcom, supplied the association with Hytera PNC370 PoC radios. Since the need was only temporary and not permanent, the company offered Idretten Skaper Sjanser a rental solution. They received a number of radios incl. SIM card, which could be used between the riders and the drivers in the cars.

The very big advantage of this setup, was that they could easily and simply communicate with each other and to give notice of upcoming outbreaks, unwellness, etc. The Bluetooth connection in the hand-held radio made it possible to operate over the cars' normal car radios enjoying the cars' good sound quality. By using the Hytera PoC radios, all teams involved had full coverage over the entire route.

The advatage for renting instead of owning the radios was that they avoided radio maintenance after the race.

When the association reached the finish line, they heard from another team that they could well have used Hytera radios for their race as they had lost contact with each other along the way and thus could not communicate about outbreaks.