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Motorola pushes public safety frequency on 4GFeb 28, 2013 (Bangkok Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Motorola Solutions, the Illinois-based provider of mission-critical communications, is urging the Thai telecom regulator to allocate a fourth-generation (4G) frequency for public safety purposes. Lim Boon Cheong, the business development director of Motorola Solutions Singapore, said the company is working with the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity to encourage governments in the region to reserve the 700-megahertz bandwidth on long-term evolution 4G technology for public safety communications. He said the US and European governments have adopted this frequency, as it provides better coverage at a lower network cost. Wireless high-speed broadband can support video capacity instead of just voice, allowing public safety authorities, especially police officers, to improve services and make decisions based on real-time information, said Mr Lim. He said that, for instance, police officers can assess video of a crime in progress and check maps while en route to a scene to determine how best to approach a building unseen, thus giving them access to potentially life-saving information. Video combined with analytical software can result in improved situational awareness for officers such as in drug smuggling cases, said Mr Lim. One study found that every dollar invested in public safety returns five dollars worth of results. He said Thailand presents a good opportunity for the company, as the country is transitioning from analogue to digital in its broadcast system, which increases the potential for replacement of radio communication devices. Supranee Kueakoonngern, the country manager of Motorola Solutions Thailand, said hundreds of public safety organisations as well as the oil and gas sector use the company's radio system. In cooperation with partners, Motorola has joined in the bidding for the radio system of the new Red and Purple mass transit lines. Sales manager Siwaj Rojanatemsak said the retail and hospitality sectors look to be big IT spenders this year. The company sells 2D scanners for use in the retail sector to read barcodes on products and the code in smartphone apps for digital discounts, he said. Motorola has also joined with its distributor, Ingram Micro, to open a demonstration centre for its products. ___ (c)2013 the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) Visit the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) at www.bangkokpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |