Public Safety Networks from LTE to 5G

2Public Safety Networks Evolution Toward Broadband and Interoperability

2.1 Introduction

Founded in 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the United States has made it a priority to enhance communication with the Nation's emergency responders, seeking real‐time information sharing among responders during all threats and hazards to the safety of Americans. The National Emergency Communication plan focuses on sharing information with the public and private sector entities, government entities, and non‐government entities. The various stakeholders' engagement with American safety made the DHS' first plan a success.

The safety of citizens depends on the ability of first responders to communicate and formulate an applicable approach to resolving a disaster. Development of appropriate communication platforms to provide a system that can interlink between several agencies as occurs in the commercial platform is essential. Problems in public safety communication systems are notable for hindering different geographies and agencies in first response to communicate and coordinate.

This chapter looks at how public safety networks have made efforts in order to advance from narrowband to broadband systems for a better services and interoperability. These public safety networks are a collaborative effort of the government, technological industry, and a number of other interested parties like telecommunications companies. The collaboration has seen to the improvement of public services ...