TCCA celebrates 30 years of mission-critical innovations

TCCA is celebrating 30 years of promoting standardised technologies for mission-critical communication systems.

Reflecting on the journey since its 25th anniversary, the association credits its achievements to the support and contributions from members, partners, and media outlets within the critical communications sector.

TCCA Board Chair Mladen Vratonjić, said, "During all these years, the market has shown that this kind of association was necessary. TETRA is not only a marketing hit, it is a triumph of quality, a careful and smart approach, a joint success of producers and users under the watchful eye of TCCA – and TCCA initiates the same approach when defining broadband solutions for critical communications."

The organisation notes that the increasing number of members and the desire to cooperate on high-quality open standards assure TCCA's continued influence. "The increasing number of members, the better and more comprehensive world congresses, the undeniable desire of all stakeholders to cooperate in the application of high-quality open standards are a guarantee that TCCA will continue to be a leading player in the field of critical communications in the future," Vratonjić added.

TCCA is currently focused on developing mission-critical broadband solutions. Various working groups continue their efforts in areas such as broadband callout, spectrum, and security. As the Market Representation Partner for 3GPP, TCCA has integrated the unique needs of mission-critical users into 3GPP releases, which are foundational for standardised critical broadband products.

A recent milestone was celebrated as the Global Certification Forum (GCF) incorporated 3GPP-based Mission Critical Services into its certification programme. This ensures device and service compliance for critical broadband, which could foster an interoperable services ecosystem.

TETRA technology continues to thrive, supported by TCCA's Interoperability Process, which has progressed even during restrictions from the pandemic. New security algorithms and updates have been added to TETRA's profiles, enhancing its capabilities.

Ildefonso de la Cruz, Principal Analyst in the Public Safety & Critical Communications group at Omdia, noted TETRA's growth: "TETRA's growth trajectory is twofold: it is supporting the refreshment of existing public safety networks while simultaneously driving the digitalisation path in transportation, utilities, and critical industrial sectors globally."

De la Cruz also commented on the global adoption of critical broadband services, which is currently in the "planning" stages but advancing towards implementation, highlighting the commitment of governmental and industry stakeholders.

TCCA continues to engage globally and participate in various international events. Its own Critical Communications World (CCW) event has seen significant growth, with notable increases in visitor numbers and host country participation over the years. The 2025 event in Brussels is on track to be the largest yet, with 80% of the floor space already booked in advance.

TCCA's overarching vision remains to promote secure and standardised technologies for a safer world, encouraging participation from stakeholders interested in shaping the future of critical communications.