World’s first hybrid TETRA 5G network goes live

Airbus has successfully demonstrated full interoperability between 5G and TETRA networks, in Guangzhou, China.

The trial connected 5G smartphones and terminals for the Guangzhou Government’s shared radio network, with China Telecom’s 5G network.

During the trial, Airbus’s Tactilon Agnet application was installed on various devices including smartphones, secure phones with dual-operation systems, body-worn cameras and satellite smartphones.

The application then enabled end-users from the Guangzhou government agencies to experience full interoperability between those on the TETRA network and those using 5G. That meant seamless voice and data services between the two groups of users, including group and individual calls, messaging services, video and data sharing, geo-positioning and push-to-talk features.

The Guangzhou Government’s shared TETRA network, implemented by Airbus, is interconnected with 4G networks from China Telecom, China Mobile, and China Unicom.

The Guangzhou Government Shared Radio Network is one of the biggest city-wide TETRA networks in the world. It serves more than 50,000 subscribers from police forces, fire and ambulance services, local utility companies, and the emergency response office, among others. The network has a three-dimension coverage which comprises air, on-ground and underground coverage.