Redefining Private Networks: Caltta's Full Convergence Concept Leads a New Generation of Private Network Technologies

The global private network industry is currently enjoying a period of technological advancement. The world's largest private network market, public security, is transforming from analog to digital and from digital to broadband. Before 2018, the market was primarily shifting from analog to digital. The conversion from analog to digital will be completed in 2018, after which the public security market will enter a period of broadband-based development.

The global private network industry is expanding its applications. With the maturity of LTE private network technologies and standards, private networks are evolving from voice scheduling, which is basically voice calls, to integrated scheduling, which combines voice and data. More networks are entering industry scenarios, including railways, ports, airports, freight yards and other large areas of industrial operations, representing new markets for private networks. The shift from tools for dispatching personnel to automation tools for industrial production will create more growth for the private network industry.

Caltta PMR Radios Identifying trends and leading future development

Back in 2014, Caltta proposed the private network development concept of broadband-narrowband and public-private integration. Today’s development has confirmed that Caltta’s concept is consistent with industry development trends.

Caltta General Manager Long Jiang (middle), Caltta Deputy General Manager Sun Mingliang (left), Caltta Deputy General Manager Mou Yongjian (right)

At the 2017 Caltta Channel & Product Release Conference, Caltta general manager Long Jiang said in an interview with CCID, "Broadband-narrowband integration and public-private integration reflect the development trends of private networks in network capacity and network structure respectively. We can go further with that concept. Caltta is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZTE Corporation specializing in private network communications. With ZTE’s strong research & development capabilities, our products cover the full ranges of 2G PDT, DMR, 3G GoTa, 4G B-TrunC, and MCPTT. We’re one of the world's few manufacturers of professional wireless communication equipment that produces both broadband and narrowband clustering technology."

Long Jiang stressed: "The 2+4 [2G+4G] broadband-narrowband integrated solution, based on software-defined radio technology developed by Caltta, uses a unified framework to cope with all private network scenarios. Whether it’s narrowband, broadband or integrated broadband and narrowband or whether it’s private, public or integrated public-private, the unified architecture in Caltta’s 2+4 solution supports the conversion of various combinations and provides a solution."

In the context of broadband-narrowband integration and public-private integration, private networks are distinguished from proprietary networks. Private networks are shifting from building a physically-owned network with proprietary technology to building a network that is not physically owned but that can be controlled with a variety of sources and technologies. Long Jiang said, "This is a profound change. Caltta summarizes this trend as ‘all-integrated'. Private networks will be removed in the sense of physical ownership, but the essential service level will remain. Since 2016, ZTE has shifted from 2+4 product research & development to the goal of ‘Full Convergence’. The 2+4 concept is no longer simple broadband-narrowband integration or public-private integration; it’s next-generation private network technology embodied by ‘Full Convergence’."

Caltta PMR Radios-New products, new highlights

The release of six new products added highlights to the 2017 Caltta Channel & Product Release Conference. The released products were the 3-in-1 intercom GH900, ultra-thin PDT clustering intercom Z9, new-generation eChat terminals e350 and e700, the Bluetooth handset AE600, and the portable LTE system P200. These products were well received by both channel partners on site and many key industry players.

For GH900, the Caltta deputy general manager Mou Yongjian said in an interview with CCID, "The industry has reached a consensus on broadband-narrowband integration and public-private integration. However, no terminal products consistent with this trend have appeared. This causes a poor user experience for broadband-narrowband integration and public-private integration. The deployment of 3G networks didn’t immediately spark a mobile Internet technology revolution – the revolution was really triggered by the emergence of smart phones, in this case the iPhone. The value of a new network can only really be triggered when a terminal is developed for it. The GH900 for the private network industry is equivalent to the iPhone in the smart phone market, and it will bring in a new era of mobile Internet for private network."

Z9, a Caltta’s leading new-generation PDT model, also lives up to user expectations, satisfying needs for good quality in a smaller form factor. Caltta’s new-generation eChat terminals e350 and e700 are excellent in terms of signal strength, ease of use, volume, battery life, durability and other features. Both are designed for professional intercom users.

AE600 is a result of Caltta's innovation. It is targeted at customers who use the eChat intercom for non-routine work. Mou Yongjian said, "Some customers don’t want to buy expensive professional intercoms, but they wish to have a similar user experience. The AE600 is designed to cater for this demand. It can be connected over Bluetooth to smart phones on which the eChat application is installed, so the professional audio, buttons and other functions of intercoms are expanded. Users can directly operate the AE600 to originate and answer eChat calls and adjust the volume. By pairing their smart phones with the AE600 on Bluetooth, users can enjoy a professional talkback experience at minimum cost. It’s a very cost-effective eChat solution."

Based on ZTE’s mature LTE technology, the P200 can be used to rapidly build a local emergency command network in a variety of harsh environments. It delivers a full set of emergency command functions, including audio and video clustering, video scheduling, map positioning, data, and SMS. It also provides a data interface so it can interoperate with other systems. Currently it is deployed in various scenarios, including emergency response, public security, and the judiciary.

Good products bring customers

Since its inception, Caltta has remained committed to the research & development of core technology. Its narrowband, broadband and emergency products have reached an advanced technical level in an international context, and the market has responded positively to Caltta's efforts. In 2017, the company recorded revenues of 1.15 billion yuan, representing a growth rate as high as 43.8%. It performed particularly well in the LTE private network field and its PDT topped the like products in the incremental market.

Deputy General Manager Sun Mingliang from Caltta commented in an interview with CCID, "Caltta upholds ZTE’s principle of keeping low-key and pragmatic. We firmly believe that good products will bring customers. We try to correctly spot industry trends and respond early. With the integration and broadband-based development of private network and the expanding breadth and depth of applications in the industry, Caltta is facing a historic opportunity for rapid development."

Sun Mingliang stressed that, "Caltta will adhere to the principles of openness, inclusiveness, and common development; accelerate the construction of the new-generation private network industry; collaborate with its partners; share its success with the world; and create a more favorable and mutually supportive ecosystem. Caltta and its partners will usher in an era of rapid development."

It is reported that Caltta has achieved good results in business areas such as wireless government networks, public security networks, rail transit, airports, ports, and public network trunking, and has emerged as a leading enterprise in private network communications.