11 February 2022

Ken Rehbehn, principal analyst at CritComm Insights and contributing principal analyst for Omdia

Even as high-speed mobile cellular data services expand, the tremendous utility offered by simple push-to-talk voice communication is tough to beat. In the 2021 edition of Omdia’s Licensed Mobile Radio Report, the installed base of these handheld portable and vehicle-mounted radios continues to expand. The lurking question, however, is what changes are in store as push-to-talk over cellular gains traction in the years to come.

Land mobile radio spans a variety of radio technologies, ranging from simple analog systems to complex, computer-driven digital trunked networks. But at its core, the land mobile radio market is focused on a fundamental goal: simply and efficiently getting a voice transmission to a group of listeners. For the user, the key to simplicity is a single button that initiates the voice transmission.

Push-to-talk simplicity wins

The simplicity of push-to-talk means that a user does not have to unlock a screen, look up a number, or make multiple button taps when initiating a conversation. This feature makes push-to-talk the preferred voice communications tool for enterprise teams on construction sites, airfields, bus fleets, and other dispersed work activities. All users need to hear the same message, and push-to-talk makes this possible. Likewise, in public safety agencies, the simplicity of push-to-talk is an essential feature that aids police and fire operations.

Land mobile radio (LMR) systems deliver the push-to-talk capability with narrowband radio signals in the spectrum below 1 GHz. As a narrowband technology, data transmission capabilities are minimal. Digital LMR systems such as TETRA or DMR support data transmission, but only as short messages. Older analog LMR systems are voice only, with no data functionality. For heavy data sessions supporting graphics, cloud applications, or video, users must turn to LTE or 5G mobile broadband technologies.

Analog begins to fade

Omdia’s Licensed Mobile Radio Report tracks the market dynamics for push-to-talk radio communications. The 2021 edition concludes that the installed base of LMR users continues to grow, even as shipments slipped during the Covid era. Omdia found more than 53 million LMR active users at the end of 2020, an increase of 1.7% from the prior year.

Significantly, Omdia found 65.4% of the total 2020 installed base were digital subscribers. These users will continue to grow, increasing by 35.8% in 2025. The reason for the growth is the efficiency and expanded features enabled by digital land mobile radio systems.

Europe remains a TETRA stronghold

A mature land mobile radio market, Europe’s subscribers primarily operate on digital land mobile radio technologies. Of these, TETRA remains the technology of choice for public safety operations that demand high security, short data messages, and flexible trunked radio operations. The TETRA radio standard originated in the European Community and is designed to provide interoperability between government agencies across the region.

A sign of Europe’s advanced status is the proportion of LMR subscribers operating on digital systems. In Europe, 71% of the subscribers were using one of the digital technologies at the end of 2020. Omdia expects this proportion to grow to 83% by the end of 2025.

LTE and 5G disruption

Though land mobile radio systems have proven valuable tools for group coordination, the data limitations and high deployment costs are forcing enterprises and governments to shift from narrowband to broadband technologies. For enterprises, a variety of push-to-talk over cellular solutions are available that operate over mobile LTE networks. Government users are turning to a standardized mission-critical push-to-talk over cellular technology that incorporates quality of service, priority, and preemption.

Unfortunately, however, a shift to LTE presents a particular challenge to public safety operations. The ability for users to communicate with nearby users, even when the network is not reachable, is paramount but not available with today’s LTE devices.

Though the 3GPP standards effort that created mission-critical push-to-talk included the proximity services feature as a direct mode alternative, the capability has not entered the market. This gap means that the shift towards LTE and 5G depends upon hybrid push-to-talk devices that can handle LTE and a legacy LMR radio technology. Most major LMR device suppliers now provide hybrid options. 

As the options for land mobile radio expand and users contemplate a future shift towards LTE and 5G communications, the fundamental need for simple group voice communications remains. For many years, and in many parts of the world, narrowband land mobile radio coverage will remain the foundation for enterprises and public safety.