The enduring relevance of critical communications technology and the growing significance of AI & software, hold promise for supporting both the public safety and enterprise segments. This is how the company plans to close current gaps in collaboration and safety between the two sectors.

As a 96 year-old organization, Motorola Solutions’ credits its ability to evolve and adapt over time to working closely with its public safety and enterprise customers. By ideating and crystalizing innovations together with customers, the company has been creating what it describes as a connected ecosystem of technologies.

Motorola Solutions has specialized in developing public safety communications networks and devices for decades, but it has had to earn its stripes in new areas to become a more video- and software-focused company. That has meant having to acquire certain capabilities and companies if the company didn’t already possess those skills in-house.

Motorola Solutions has been on the acquisition path over the past several years. Why? Because its objective was to create an ecosystem of solutions where video analytics, command center software and voice communication networks and devices, can all work and interoperate with each other to deliver richer insights for frontline workers.

A closer look at these acquisitions show that they all serve a clear purpose: accelerating the time it takes to get support to those who need it while keeping frontline workers and community members safe.

Pic courtesy of Motorola Solutions.

For example, the most recent acquisition of 3tc Software, a U.K.-based provider of control room software solutions for emergency services, is about bolstering the company’s command centre software chops, delivering context-aware data to first responders from public emergency calls so they can work more efficiently and resources can be deployed to where they are needed most.

Acquisitions and technology announcements made in the past year signal the strategic shift Motorola Solutions is making towards applying its global experience in building hardened, public safety radio networks and devices to also encompass the enterprise and commercial segment.

Connectivity for better public safety outcomes

A technology demonstration (see image and video below) hosted at Motorola Solutions’ Singapore headquarters highlighted how combining different technologies can enhance awareness and safety in a simulated, high-speed police chase.

A demonstration with VR goggles highlighted the role of a connected police car as well as plate recognition technologies in assisting a police officer to apprehend a virtual offender.

A pair of VR goggles featuring public safety workflow software and vehicle number plate recognition technologies were used to bring a virtual offender to justice. Afterwards, a media panel discussion circled back to discuss the importance of having a seamless handover of data and information between public safety and enterprise organizations, and why innovation, R&D investments and public policy were all needed to support greater collaboration between the two sectors.

When public safety, security and commercial operators can share what they see across video analytics, footage from body cameras, and critical communications technologies, collaboration and safety efforts can push past existing ‘limitations’ to track a known offender or gang as they move through busy urban areas, commercial spaces, and restricted security zones.

This technology use case was one of a few highlighted during a panel discussion, “Building Safer Communities & Industries with Connected Technologies,” which featured representatives from SMRT (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit) , NCPC (National Crime Prevention Council), and Motorola Solutions.

Dan Yock Hau from the National Crime Prevention Council, or NCPC.

The panel also discussed how data security and privacy are a growing global concern, and Dan Yock Hau from NCPC, emphasized the importance of having a security-by-design approach to product development. Acknowledging Singapore’s highly digitalized society, he noted that NCPC collaborates with companies and vendors to ensure market-ready products meet necessary privacy and security standards.

Demand for Critical Communication Remains

Critical communications remains at the core of Motorola Solutions’ expertise and product offerings. In Singapore, TETRA networks draw on these capabilities across multiple sectors like transport, logistics, tourism, shipping and entertainment.

Leow Wee Lee, SMRT’s Principal Fellow, Signal & Communications and Head of Cyber Security

Leow Wee Lee, SMRT’s Principal Fellow, Signal & Communications and Head of Cyber Security, highlighted the crucial role that rail operator’s TETRA technologies provide, saying, “Reliable radio communications is very important for railway operations, especially in driverless train operations; it serves as a critical backup channel for emergency communication with the control center and commuters.”

Validating SMRT’s confidence in the technology was its recent decision to extend a long-term service and support agreement with Motorola Solutions for another 15 years.

Rajat Gupta, Vice President of Motorola Solutions AMEA (Asia, Middle East, and Africa)

Rajat Gupta, Vice President of Motorola Solutions AMEA (Asia, Middle East, and Africa) added that the company has around 13,000 mission-critical radio networks around the world.

“Reliable radio communications is very important for railway operations, especially in driverless train operations; it serves as a critical backup channel for emergency communication with the control center and commuters.” – Leow Wee Lee.

Thinking about the future, he believes some of the company’s best opportunities to innovate on its AI and safety and software technologies will come from working with its existing customers who are grappling with new security threats and seeking to expand the capabilities of the radio networks and command centre solutions they use today.

There is a convergence of traditional and new that points to the enduring relevance of critical communications technologies, and that far from being diminished by emerging technologies, critical communications is providing the platform for Motorola Solutions to amplify and connect what it can offer for both the enterprise and public safety sectors.