The world around us — both globally and locally — changed dramatically a few months ago when the COVID-19 pandemic began to hit country after country. Many things have changed, among them numerous cancellations and job losses, but one positive is the continuing innovation in the mission-critical communications industry

Zebra Technologies released study findings that reveal public-safety agencies globally will increasingly adopt mobile technologies to continuously improve workflows and community relations within the next five years.

Axon announced a real-time mobile application that allows law enforcement to use a mobile device to remotely view live streamed Axon Body 3 camera or Axon Air drone footage.

Integrator AMR Asia appointed Teltronic TETRA provider of the Gold line, an Automatic People Mover (APM) line under construction that will be the first feeder line of the Bangkok, Thailand, rapid transit system operated by BTS.

The FCC released the final report summarizing the Aug. 7, 2019, nationwide test of the emergency alert system (EAS) using only the broadcast-based distribution system, otherwise known as the daisy chain. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the FCC, conducted the test.

Florida’s 2020 – 2021 General Appropriations Act would direct the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) to renew its contract with L3Harris Technologies for the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS).

There are initiatives in 15 countries for enterprises to deploy private networks, said global technology market advisory firm ABI Research. This includes both arrangements for enterprises to acquire spectrum directly from the regulator, as well as spectrum assets held by mobile network operators, that focus entirely on providing private cellular networks for enterprises.

Organizers of the British Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (BAPCO) said the event, held 10 – 11 March, hosted 1,690 public-safety professionals and more than 70 suppliers. More than 1,922 total visitors attended.

In response to the global coronavirus pandemic, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Industry Specification Group “Europe for Privacy-Preserving Pandemic Protection” (ISG E4P) was established to provide a standardization framework to enable developers to build interoperable mobile apps for proximity detection and anonymous identification.

The COVID-19 pandemic is piling more burdens on America’s 9-1-1 centers, said the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). For example, many 9-1-1 centers quarantined staff members who showed possible symptoms of COVID-19, exacerbating a chronic workforce shortage, and many have been denied access to emergency resources because they lack “first responder” or “essential” status.