Extending the LTE/LTE-A Business Case: Mission- and Business-Critical Mobile Broadband Communications

With the advent of faster fourth-generation (4G) mobile broadband networks and the proliferation of a rich ecosystem of smartphone applications in the commercial domain, expectations and demand for much more sophisticated and high-bandwidth applications are also on the rise within professional users sectors, such as public safety, utilities, and transportation. In this context, this article analyzes the extension of the long-term evolution (LTE)/LTE-advanced (LTE-A) business case to professional mobile radio users. To that end, an overview of the technical features that are expected to turn the LTE standard into a mission-critical-capable technology is first provided. Afterward, a number of potential service delivery models for private mobile broadband communications are identified, discussing the pros and cons of each value proposition.