CML Micro Continues to Support and Develop TETRA Communications Technology

Despite new developments in TETRA technology by some major manufacturers, the TETRA vendor ecosystem is shrinking, with key suppliers redirecting R&D investment towards 5G/LTE and software-defined radio platforms.

CML Micro, a leading provider of high-performance, TETRA-compatible RF components for critical communications systems, recently launched a new whitepaper that describes the fact that the company continues to support TETRA radiocommunications technology while other suppliers are slowly leaving the market.

TETRA has it's limitations, particularly as modern communication requirements evolve to support digitization and software-defined radio technologies. Its narrowband architecture causes bandwidth limitations, making it unsuitable for data-intensive applications like live streaming, drone telemetry, or large-scale file transfers. As a legacy 2G-era standard, TETRA networks are becoming increasingly difficult to support due to ageing infrastructure and diminishing compatibility with emerging digital systems. The phasing out of critical hardware components, such as high-linearity PAs, further complicates the issue.

TETRA Vendor Ecosystem 

Despite developments in TETRA technology by, for example, Motorola Solutions, the vendor ecosystem is shrinking, with key suppliers redirecting R&D investment towards 5G/LTE and software-defined radio platforms. This results in TETRA-compatible components becoming increasingly scarce, driving equipment suppliers to focus on sourcing components with stable long-term supply. Component suppliers are exiting the TETRA market, despite sustained demand from government and critical communications agencies.

The industry-wide shift toward multiband, multimode SDR architectures is reducing the need for discrete, single-band power amplifier modules, and semiconductor vendors are prioritizing investment in next-generation technologies, leading to a shortage in the supply of TETRA-compatible components.

TETRA-compatible components

To meet the ongoing need for high-performance RF transmit components, CML Micro has expanded its SμRF portfolio with two new Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) HBT PAs: CMX90A007 and CMX90A009. These products are designed to work together in a linear RF transmit chain and are optimized for gain and efficiency balance, compatibility with TETRA frequency bands, and integration with CML's broader product base, including the CMX998.

The CMX998 Cartesian Feedback Loop (CFBL) transmitter is a key enabler for TETRA system designs by providing the high linearity required for non-constant envelope modulation schemes. When used as part of a transmit chain alongside the newly launched CMX90A007 and CMX90A009 GaAs power amplifiers, the CMX998 minimizes distortion and maintains signal integrity, meeting TETRA's stringent spectral and adjacent channel performance requirements.

The CMX998 integrates seamlessly into any linear RF architecture, enhancing overall system performance. With on-chip signal conditioning, quadrature modulation, and feedback capability, it allows designers to deliver more efficient transmissions, making it a smart choice for high-performance LMR and mission-critical radio solutions.

Real-world testing and performance validation have shown that the implementation of the CMX998 Cartesian Feedback Loop demonstrated an improvement in ACP.

TETRA Continues to Play a Vital Role  

According to independent research conducted by Omdia and acknowledged by TCCA, TETRA continues to play a key role in global communications networks, particularly in delivering high-reliability, secure, voice-prioritized communications. Until MCX over LTE and 5G can match TETRA's network coverage and proven robustness, TETRA networks will continue to serve as a foundational technology for mission-critical communications. This represents both a responsibility and an opportunity: to support partners and customers with the quality RF components needed to maintain and evolve their critical communications systems.

Going forward, in this whitepaper, CML Micro stated that the company continues to play a crucial role in the development and supply of high-performance RF components for critical communications systems. Their expertise lies in delivering high-performance IC solutions that enable efficient and reliable data transfer, signal processing, and system integration.