Nokia has enhanced the capabilities of its “LTE network in a box” (NIB) to ensure emergency communications can be transmitted in areas with poor radio signal.
The base station, which was unveiled in May and is designed to bring communications to disaster areas and isolated industrial sites, has now been integrated with Harris’ BeOn application suite.
The update offers land mobile radio-like (LMR) tools such as push-to-talk, situational awareness, group messaging, location tracking and video streaming.
Nokia said NIB could be pre-installed in public safety vehicles or on-site trailers to offer full network coverage on macro sites, ensuring first responders have access to reliable, high-bandwidth services in the case of an emergency.
The mobile edge computing capabilities of NIB also offers integration of functions such as Self Organising Network, M2M analytics, localised video broadcasting, intelligent map application and augmented reality at the network edge.
Nokia said that partnering with Harris was “an important component” of its strategy to develop public safety broadband systems with specialist companies.
US-based Harris manufactures wireless equipment for the government, defence and commercial sectors.
Michelle Johnson, Director of Product Line Management at Harris, said: “Harris and Nokia Networks’ combined solution makes powerful on-the-scene LTE communications a reality for first responders, even when they must operate in disaster areas or outside their broadband coverage footprint.”
Thorsten Robrecht, Vice President of Partner Business at Nokia Networks, added: “By combining Harris’ mission-critical applications with Nokia Networks’ LTE solution, we create new and real value for our joint customers in the public safety community.
“This is at the heart of our partner ecosystem strategy. By extending our reach beyond the traditional telco industry, we can create exciting new opportunities and explore new business models together with our partners and customers.”