Public safety communications shift toward LTE and 5G networks

• Investment in LTE and 5G, is forecast to rise sharply through 2028.
• Fire and rescue services face transition challenges as legacy radio systems give way to advanced public safety networks.

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What happened: public safety broadband investment surges

A recent industry analysis from SNS Telecom & IT has projected that global spending on public safety broadband infrastructure and devices using LTE and 5G New Radio (NR) technologies will exceed $6.3 billion by the end of 2028. The forecast reflects an expected compound annual growth rate of around 8 per cent from 2025 levels, when annual investments were estimated at about $5 billion. The research is referenced in a report on public safety communications investment trends.

This growth is driven by migration away from legacy land mobile radio (LMR) systems such as TETRA and Tetrapol towards broadband solutions developed under the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards. These broadband technologies are designed to support enhanced voice, data and video services necessary for real-time emergency response operations.

Several national public safety broadband deployments are already operational or advancing towards implementation. These include large-scale networks such as the United States’ FirstNet, European efforts including Great Britain’s Emergency Services Network (ESN) and France’s RRF, as well as initiatives in Sweden, Finland, Japan, and New Zealand.

Countries such as Saudi Arabia have also invested heavily in mission-critical networks that support public safety communications across defence, law enforcement and emergency response agencies.

Also Read: https://btw.media/en/allinternet-governance/public-safety-and-emergency-communications/

Why it’s important: emergency response and infrastructure transition

The shift towards broadband public safety networks marks a significant evolution in how emergency services communicate during crises. Traditional LMR systems, while robust and familiar, lack the data capacity and interoperability increasingly needed for modern incident management. Broadband networks offer higher throughput, integrated video and geolocation services, and the potential for AI-driven situational awareness tools, which can be crucial in complex rescue operations.

However, transitioning to new communications infrastructure is technically and operationally challenging. Emergency agencies must manage interoperability with existing systems, ensure coverage and redundancy in rural and urban areas, and train personnel on new tools. There are also questions about the cost, governance and long-term sustainability of mission-critical broadband deployments.

For fire and rescue services specifically, broader broadband adoption could enhance capabilities such as real-time building data access and remote hazard imaging. Yet it also raises concerns about reliance on commercial technologies and the potential impact on resilience if networks are disrupted during disasters.

Ultimately, while investment forecasts are strong, the practical realities of implementation, interoperability and security will determine whether these next-generation networks deliver on their potential to transform public safety communications.

Also Read: https://btw.media/en/allit-infrastructure/orange-and-ericsson-launch-5g-slice-for-emergencies/