Public Safety Communications above 6 GHz: Challenges and Opportunities

TLDR

Public safety communications demand fast, reliable, low‑latency links across diverse modes, and the largely untapped millimeter‑wave bands above 6 GHz offer vastly more spectrum than sub‑6 GHz bands, enabling high‑definition video, VR, and machine‑type connectivity for first responders, though many research challenges remain. This paper aims to illustrate the potential of frequencies above 6 GHz for public safety communications and to identify the open problems that must be addressed to realize such networks. To support this, the authors describe the main components of a functional mmWave test platform designed to study complex scenarios and plan to develop it into a valuable tool for deploying mmWave PSC networks.

Abstract

Advanced public safety communication (PSC) services call for fast, reliable and low-latency communication technologies, capable of supporting diverse communication modes (aerial, unmanned, vehicular, and peer-to-peer), fast channel dynamics, and ad hoc or mesh structures. For this reason, PSC has been identified as one of the key potential uses cases for the next generation of communication systems, the so-called 5G. In this scenario, the millimeter wave (mmWave) bands and other frequencies above 6 GHz are particularly interesting, since they are largely untapped and offer vastly more spectrum than current cellular allocations in the highly congested bands below 6 GHz, thus enabling orders of magnitude greater data rates and reduced latency. For example, new PSC networks in the mmWave bands could support high-definition video, virtual reality, and other broadband data to large numbers of first responders. Surveillance drones or ambulances could also be provided high-speed connectivity along with machine-type communication for remotely controlled robotic devices entering dangerous areas. However, the way towards this ambitious goal is hindered by a number of open research challenges. In this paper, after a brief introduction to PSC services and requirements, we illustrate the potential of the frequencies above 6 GHz for PSC and discuss the open problems that need to be solved in order to pave this way. Finally, we describe the main components of a test platform for mmWave systems that is functional to the study of such complex scenarios and that we plan to develop as an invaluable tool for realizing mmWave PSC networks.