The Benefits of Push-to-Talk Over Cellular Network for Public Safety

Public safety agencies have long used Push-to-Talk (PTT) for instant voice communication. But traditionally they’ve relied on existing radio systems to broadcast urgent messages.

Today there’s an evolution. First responders are complementing their radio networks with Push-to-Talk over cellular networks, which provide 5G speed and reliability in emergencies—even in rural areas.  And they are able to integrate their new devices with older radios.

First responders remain challenged communicating in more remote areas where there is no connectivity. That means that right now, there are people in the public safety field that don't have the ability to connect via traditional voice. 

But now they have the ability to use PTT over cellular networks and Wi-Fi. Today, anyone who operates in critical operation fields can use land mobile radios to interoperate with the latest rugged devices and a PTT SaaS solution to transmit voice over cellular versus radio channels. 

And cellular networks are now designed to provide reliable communications for first responders and other critical segments of government.

This is truly a benefit in extremely remote areas where cellular networks provide strong connections to hold a call, transmitting voice over a data network. First responders now have the flexibility to either get rid of their expensive radio systems that they are leasing or supplement radios with cellular devices that allow them to stay connected even when they are outside of the radio coverage area. ​ 

With cellular networks, teams can use a blend of equipment, including land mobile radios (LMRs), Push-to-Talk-enabled over cellular devices and rugged phones built with Push-to-Talk like the Siyata SD7 with ESChat to communicate. ESChat, an application designed to integrate with PTT devices, enables the user to send instant texts or images securely.

Public safety team leaders want to know where their user is, not only for safety purposes, but also in responding to certain critical incidents or emergencies. 

ESChat benefits:

• Real-time location tracking
• Read receipts
• Mass communications via SMS and MMS
• SOS button for emergencies
• Ability to send out critical messages at once

When you think about an emergency, with large-scale deployments of first responders, you can leverage the SMS and MMS to communicate. Using read receipts on the ESChat app, you can make sure that your first responders are receiving these messages, reading these messages. Whether you send a one-to-one individual message or a large-scale message, it would acknowledge to the sender that the end user has received the message and opened the message and read it.

When government agencies need to reduce costs while maintaining critical communications, transitioning to cellular-based devices like the Siyata SD7 offers a winning solution. It’s cost-effective, easy to use, expands communications beyond the range of a traditional radio and is more rugged than a smartphone. UScellular makes this shift seamless, providing robust support for IT departments to manage devices remotely, plus customized contracts at the state and local level. 

Agencies benefit from accessories like the vehicle kit unit, which allows the SD7 to be used statically in vehicles or on the go, and the software solution from ESChat. The SD7, designed for voice-only use, avoids the distractions commonly associated with smartphone apps.

Also, the SD7 is remarkably affordable. The device costs just a penny when purchased from UScellular with a data plan, a stark contrast to traditional radios that can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. This makes the military-grade, ruggedized SD7 a highly practical choice, offering the high-quality performance that first responders rely on, but at a fraction of the cost.

And universities are using Push-to-Talk too for big events. They want to have these devices available on our critical connectivity network during football games, when there's tens of thousands of people, so they have a solid emergency plan in place. 

So, I think that's where UScellular solutions can be really powerful.