Motorola to develop public safety broadband network for LA-RICS

Motorola has been selected by the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communication System Authority (LA-RICS) to develop a wireless Public Safety Broadband Network (PSBN) based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology.

Under the contract, Motorola will develop PSBN to provide mission-critical data communications for 34,000 law enforcement, fire service and health service professionals and more than 80 public safety agencies in Los Angeles region.

The PSBN solution, operating on Public Safety LTE Band Class 14 of the 700 MHz spectrum, will provide a shared, region-wide data system during natural disasters and other widespread emergencies.

LA-RICS executive director Patrick Mallon said, "Proceeding with this wireless Public Safety Broadband Network for the Los Angeles region will assist LA-RICS in fulfilling its goal of providing the finest public safety grade mission-critical communications to the region’s public safety professionals."

Comprising an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) with 231 eNodeB sites operating on Band Class 14, as well as a highly-reliable backhaul network and redundant Network Operation Centers (NOC), the high-speed LTE PSBN will enable first responders to use the latest video, data and other broadband tools to execute their missions more efficiently and safely.

The contract comprises five-phase project to design, construct, implement and maintain the LTE network and is valued at $175m if all options are exercised.