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Abstract

Wireless communications for public safety, emergency communications, and delivery of wideband services to rural communities are topics of crucial importance to the welfare of the society. Broadband wireless digital subscriber loop (WDSL) technologies offer complementary and possibly low cost solutions to providing broadband connectivity services even to low densely populated areas that otherwise would be outside the loop. At the same time the availability of broadband wireless technologies can be useful for effective information dissemination in times of natural and man-made disasters thus providing a fundamental tool helping public safety agencies in providing quick response and support to communities needing urgent assistance and relief. The topic has been largely investigated (e.g. see references [1][2][3][4][5][6] and references therein) during the last two decades.The quality of communications services offered by the actual public safety systems is in general well behind of that offered by commercial systems. At the same time, due to costs of radio coverage and trunking, the quality of services provided by existing commercial mobile systems in low densely populated areas, e.g. rural areas, is well below that offered by operators in urban and sub-urban areas. Current solutions for rural areas for example provide basic telephone services and only are rarely suitable for effective data access. Some rural areas that are close to natural woods with dry climates are prone to fires that could be disastrous. Reliable emergency communications systems should be adequately available with access to the residents in order for emergency authorities to be able to respond to such natural disasters, as quickly as possible, if they occur.The society obvious need for new and advanced communications services for supporting public safety operations has led to the evolution of current systems towards a new generation of professional mobile radio (PMR) and standard communication systems. Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) technology has gained wide acceptance (especially in Europe) and is considered one of the mature technologies for PMR and even for PAMR (Public Access Mobile Radio) markets. TETRA has been conceived in accordance to the requirements issued by public safety agencies such as ambulance services, law enforcement, civil emergency management/disaster recovery, fire services, coast guard services, search, and rescue services, government administrations and so forth. In recent years it has been observed that integration between mobile broadband technologies and TETRA can be helpful for the achievement of the advanced services envisioned for the next generation of Public Safety and Disaster Recovery (PSDR) communication systems. In fact, data rates required for advanced emergency services provisioning plus the demand for enhanced mobility improved ad hoc functionality, and international interoperability reach far beyond the scope of the current PSDR narrowband telecommunication systems and call for mobile broadband enhanc...