The ability for government agencies and first responders to communicate during major security events, such as natural disasters, terrorist events, and major ceremonies, is critical for effective command and control operations. Tragic events in the US, such as the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and Hurricane Katrina, precipitated the need for federal, state, local and Department of Defense agencies to communicate across all of the public safety bands using a single, portable radio. Responding to this need, Thales has designed and introduced the LibertyTM multiband Land Mobile Radio (LMR), the first ever multiband software-defined LMR capable of linking multi-agency communications to enhance coordinated efforts for providing security, emergency services, and law enforcement.
Thales's LibertyTM multiband LMR is equivalent in size, weight and performance to existing single-band portable radios, yet boasts interoperability with all public safety bands (136-174 MHz, 380-520 MHz, 700 MHz, and 800 MHz) and modes (P25 conventional, P25 trunked, legacy analogue). Designed to meet stringent public safety specifications, it offers Data Encryption Standard (DES) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption with Over The Air Rekeying (OTAR) as well as all of the typical features that are available in LMRs today.
The perfect bridge radio
The LibertyTM multiband LMR takes advantage of existing infrastructure but can also operate without infrastructure. It also allows migration to new digital systems. It is the perfect radio for bridging between established regional P25 trunked systems and conventional radio users from adjacent municipalities using other bands.
Flexible deployment
The LibertyTM multiband LMR can serve a single incident commander, a group of agency commanders, all squad leaders in an agency, or every team member, as required. This means that improvements in communications interoperability can be delivered across the broadest cross-section of users, from the smallest rural agencies to the largest urban systems.
Spectrum utilisation
The LibertyTM multiband LMR offers maximum spectrum utilisation and unprecedented efficiency because the agent's portable radio will be able to operate on a variety of frequency bands. Local users who have moved to 800 MHz systems, but have kept older VHF and UHF conventional frequencies for back-up, will be able to access all of these bands for additional talk paths. Federal agency users who have been frustrated by VHF spectrum crowding are now free to use the 402 to 420 MHz band in a single portable radio.
Mutual aid channels
A well-defined set of mutual aid channels, now with proposed common nomenclature, exists nationwide for public safety and federal agency communications interoperability. The LibertyTM multiband LMR is able to host these channels in all of the major bands for maximum links among agencies.
Thales's multiband LMR is easy to operate, requires minimal training and can be deployed quickly. With day-to-day use, users become intimately familiar with its operation, and in crisis situations this familiarity can be life-saving. Finally, the days of having to carry multiple radios to cover fragmented frequency bands are over.
Thales recently demonstrated its interoperable communications solution by providing multiple units of its new multiband, portable radio for the presidential inauguration in January 2009. The LibertyTM multiband radio enhanced operations in Washington DC and the surrounding areas by linking multi-agency communications. This national security event marked the largest attendance in history for a presidential inauguration. Users were excited about the way the Liberty radio changed how they communicate and provided positive feedback regarding the radio's "convenience, functionality, fit, finish, size, weight and ergonomics".
