Broadband Reports says the US government may buy Nextel’s iDEN network and use it for national security communications. It would put federal agencies, the military, and local authorities on the same encrypted network.
In exchange for the iDEN network, Sprint may get to reclaim spectrum in the 700 and 800 mHz bands as needed so they can build out a nationwide mobile WiMAX network.
Reportedly, an announcement won’t come until 2007 or 2008, with the iDEN network being shut down for public use in 2010.
Many police officers are now equipped with Nextel cellphones as well as police radios. That gives them interoperability. Project 25 two-way radios ($2500) are designed for interoperability from the get-go.
But Project 25 radios are expensive ($2500 and up), and they don’t provide the flexibility of, say, a PocketPC with maps, photos, video and a variety of applications. The SafetyNet RadioBridge is one method to interconnect incompatible radios. It bridges them to provide radio interoperability at an emergency site in a matter of minutes. Raytheon’s ACU-1000 can interconnect up to 24 radio devices in the field – for a cool $20K.
The $10 billion Integrated Wireless Network (IWN), a joint effort between the departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Treasury, is envisioned to support about 80,000 federal officers in all 50 states.
The current IWN design is based on a [VHF], Project 25 trunked system utilizing a packet switched Internet Protocol backbone. It will link agencies via Voice over Internet Protocol and streaming video. Based on the government’s preliminary estimates, the program will require installation of communications equipment at about 2,500 locations around the country.
Billions thrown at $3,000 narrow band Project 25 radios might be an embarrassment when $500, broadband wireless PocketPCs with integrated cameras, GPS, graphics and video, can do more relevant tasks for much less money. The government will inevitably go that route. It just takes them more time to come to the same conclusion that everyone else realized some time ago. Lockheed may disagree.
Related DailyWireless articles include; Cico’s Push to Talk, Lousiana: Broadband Trial By Fire, Public Service Bands, Lockheed in $10B Wireless Project, FCC: Nextel Gets Spectrum Credit, Public Service Moves to 800Mhz, Oregon’s 700 mile Cloud in NY Times, WiMax: On The Road with Adaptix, MultiMedia Interoperability, London Explosions & Wireless Fallout, Broadband Bills, More 700 Mhz Testimony, 700 Mhz Worth $28B, Consensus Decision in Nextel’s Court and FCC: Nextel Gets PCS Spectrum.
