Trunked mobile radio: towards a pan-European digital standard

Future evolution of private mobile radio systems in Europe is discussed, and a strategy for second-generation trunking based on the traditional strengths of dispatcher-type operation together with extensive provision of data and text services is proposed. Options for the radio interference, operating time-division multiple access (TDMA) are suggested as possible candidates for future trunking. Backed by the European Commission, the ETSI Technical Sub-Committee RES 6 is now coordinating the development of a digital pan-European trunking standard with the aim of making specifications available in 1994. The activities of ETSI-RES 6 are outlined, and criteria governing the development of a digital trunking standard are advanced. Suggestions for future services to be provided are then made, and possible scenarios for the physical layer are briefly discussed.<>