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Reach
Issue 8 2015
The introduction of the dedicated
TETRA communications network for
ambulance services in 2004 was a
step change improvement, not only
for the ambulance services but for
police forces and the fire and rescue
services. However, while unrivalled
for coverage, resilience, security,
voice services, and for several
narrowband services, TETRA is not
a broadband bearer, so the advent
of LTE – or Long Term Evolution –
for broadband data is of particular
interest to the health sector.
It should be noted that LTE needs
to be developed as a mission-critical
bearer to meet the requirements
of the emergency services, and to
do this the industry is lobbying for
dedicated spectrum to ensure that
blue light users do not have to fight
for bandwidth at times of critical
operational or safety need.
LTE will provide considerable
opportunity for ambulance services
to transfer even more data faster to
and from other providers and across
the other blue light services. Perhaps
the biggest benefit to patients and
staff will be in rural and remote
areas where travelling distances to
a hospital or treatment centre are
greater and transport may not be
available or appropriate.
The benefits to the ambulance
service, NHS and social care in
LTE will provide considerable
opportunity for ambulance
services to transfer even
more data faster to and from
other providers and across
the other blue light services.
