1. TETRA Interoperability (IOP)
Roger Dowling
Board Member TETRA Association
28th February 2007
Mexico City

2. Content of Presentation
What is TETRA Interoperability?
Benefits of an Open Multi-Vendor Market
TETRA Technical Forum
The Interoperability (IOP) Process
What is IOP Tested and Certified
Status of IOP Specifications and Certification
The Future for IOP

3. What is Interoperability (IOP)?
IOP ensures that TETRA equipment from one manufacturer functions (interoperates) with TETRA equipment from another manufacturer.
IOP Testing gives Users the confidence that equipment they purchase from multiple manufacturers is interoperable.
IOP ensures that TETRA is an Open Standard.
IOP enables a Multi-Vendor TETRA market

4. Benefits of an open multi-vendor market
User benefits
wide choice of compatible terminals – 9+ suppliers
specialised products for special needs
continuous and fast product development & innovation
genuine competition, hence lower prices (c.f. P25)
reduced dependency on a single supplier
Industry benefits
larger market, greater volumes
increased possibility to invest – faster product creation
Market longevity
The TETRA Association created the IOP certification process to guarantee an open multi-vendor market!

5. Structure of the TETRA Association
Operator and Users Association (OUA)
Technical Forum (TF)
TETRA Association
Security and Fraud Prevention Group (SFPG)
Rail Forum
Geographical Forums

6. Technical Forum Open to all Members 5 Meetings per Year
Website and Mailing List
Task: Management and Monitoring of the TETRA Interoperability Process
Top Priorities for 2006/2007:
Implement new format Certificates
Encourage new (non-European) manufacturers to join the Interoperability Process

7. IOP Specification Process
A formal process managed by the TETRA Association Technical Forum
Users to define Requirements and Priorities
Manufacurers to provide technical expertise

8. Interfaces covered by TETRA IOP
PSTN
A I
PSTN
Base
Station
ISDN
LSI
NMI
ISDN
PEI
PDN
Base
Station
BSI
PDN
TETRA Switch
Other TETRA
Network
Base
Station
DMI
ISI
TETRA Network
AI: Air Interface
DMI: Direct Mode Interface
ISI: Inter-System Interface
PEI: Peripheral Equipment Interface

9. How does the IOP Process work?
Common Standard
Define Rules Practical for Implementation Equipment Tests
IOP Specification Process
IOP Certification Process

10. IOP Specification Process
Operator User Association (OUA)
Requirements
Comments
V+D
DMO
ISI
PEI
TETRA
IOP
Profile
(TIP)
Topics & Goals
Drafts
TETRA
IOP
Test
Plan
TF Meeting
Members Enquiry
Resolution
Technical Forum
Know How
Proposals
Comments
Manufacturers

11. IOP Certification Process
TETRA Products
Independent
TETRA Certification Body
Request for Testing
TETRA
IOP
Profile
(TIP)
TEST SESSION
TETRA
IOP
Test
Plan
Evaluation of Results
TETRA
IOP
Certificate

12. Independent TETRA Certification Body
ISCOM is the official Italian Type Approval body
Testing is performed at the infra- structure manufacturers’ premises supervised by ISCOM
Test logs are checked by ISCOM to ensure compliance to IOP specs.
After careful analysis of the logs, certificates are issued and published on the TETRA Association web-site
Photo by ISCOM

13. Interoperability Testing
Protocol Stack Testing
mainly Layer 3 signalling
some parts of Layer 2
Frequency Independent Testing
IOP Certificate is valid for all frequencies
IOP Testing does not cover:
Type Approval Testing
EMC Testing
Electrical Safety Testing
RF Conformance Testing

14. IOP Certificates - issued
12 Manufacturers participate in IOP Testing:
8 companies have received TETRA infrastructure certificates for 9 systems
9 companies have received TETRA terminal certificates in trunked mode
6 companies have received TETRA terminal DMO certificates
2 companies have received TETRA terminal DMO gateway certificates

15. Status of IOP Testing and Certification
In total 176 IOP Certificates issued
TIP specifications are the property of the TETRA Association and available free of charge to members of the Association
Certificates available for download: Using TETRA Interoperability

16. Interoperability in Practice
Almost all TETRA networks use a mix of terminals from different vendors
Increased innovation speed:
more than 30 new terminal models have been launched during the last 3 years.
terminals with GPS receivers and colour displays
An increasing number of application developers rely on the TIP specifications and the IOP process
Many Users and Operators ask for IOP Certificates when purchasing new equipment

17. A selection of multi-vendor TETRA systems
SYSTEM NAME & COUNTRY
NETWORK SUPPLIER
TERMINAL SUPPLIERS
Cleartone
Motorola
Nokia
(EADS)
OTE
(Selex)
Sepura
Teltronic
Agora (Spain)
Nokia/EADS
Airwave (UK)
ASTRID (Belgium)
Barcelona (Spain)
B-P-Y (Russia)
OTE/Selex
Vienna (Austria)
Frequentis
C2000 (The Netherlands)
Lueneburg (Germany)
R&S Bick Mobilfunk
ENERGIE AG (Austria)
Geneve (Switzerland)
ETELM
KELAG (Austria)
Marseille Transport (France)
MIA (Kazakhstan)
MOD (Norway)
Mont Blanc (France)
Public Safety (Greece)
Protección Civil (Venezuela)
Sakhalin (Russia)
Sibneft (Russia)
VIRVE (Finland)

18. Interoperability in Practice
Almost all TETRA networks use a mix of terminals from different vendors
Increased innovation speed:
more than 30 new terminal models have been launched during the last 3 years.
terminals with GPS receivers and colour displays
An increasing number of application developers rely on the TIP specifications and the IOP process
Many Users and Operators ask for IOP Certificates when purchasing new equipment

19. The Way Forward Continuing success of TETRA in South America and Asia
Increasing number of manufacturers in Asia – and South America?
The first Technical Forum Meeting outside of Europe was held in China in January 2007
From a European-Centric to a Global Activity

20. Conclusion
The multi-vendor environment achieved with is unique in Professional Mobile Radio, there is no other technology that can compare in terms of:
Number of suppliers
Number of different products
Price / Performance figures
TETRA

21. Thank You Any Questions? Contact Roger Dowling or