LTE Network Strategy for Smart City Public Safety

Increase in demand for broadband data services in the public safety domain is driving mobile network operators to consider different strategic options to deliver mission critical requirements. Utility service providers requiring enhanced data services for specialist applications are also being driven in a similar way. Partnering with existing commercial LTE network operators and providing these services as a mobile virtual network operator is being considered as a short term tactical solution within a long term strategic view in light of pending standards development. The scheduled release of these developments means that use cases comparable or equivalent to those delivered in TETRA networks will take time to be full realizable. To align with the spectrum of requirements around the concepts of Smart Cities, a different approach has to be sought. This paper provides a brief survey of use cases and requirements for public safety services, discusses the radio and core technology enhancements and identifies the risks with selecting partnership based strategies. A proposed strategy for Public Safety Mission Critical LTE networks forms a key contribution towards Smart City evolution.