Deutsche Telekom connects 5G, TETRA for emergency staff

Deutsche Telekom has shown off technology that lets emergency services mix existing TETRA radio systems with 5G. In a demonstration at the PMR Expo in Cologne, the operator used Motorola Solutions mission-critical tools to link a TETRA radio with a smartphone on a 5G network. The aim is to let German public safety agencies keep their current radio infrastructure while adding 5G capacity, improving coverage and network resilience.

The company also expanded its T Mission portfolio with a video feature that lets control rooms send up to ten live streams to selected user groups, covering feeds from drones, security cameras and body cameras. In partnership with ATS Elektronik, Deutsche Telekom presented a new interface for real-time sensor data such as pulse and body temperature, which is already in use by firefighters and could be applied to other emergency services.