This spring, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) field tested FirstNet’s Push-to-Talk (FNPTT) application, which is a standards-based, mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) app. The app allows voice, video, and data communications with high priority and low delays with the press of a button.
Over the course of one month, 50 federal government organizations tested the app in different scenarios that reflected real-world responses. MCPTT is the public safety mission-critical standard set by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which is responsible for LTE and 5G global standards. Representatives from the Joint Wireless Program Management Office (JWPMO) and FirstNet AT&T were also involved with the field test.
Many of the available apps in the marketplace are not standards-compliant, which poses a significant challenge for users of current push-to-talk solutions. It presents a barrier for interoperability and sustainability, with different proprietary solutions and associated costs. MCPTT includes key characteristics useful for public safety: high availability, reliability, and low latency; 1:1 calls and group calls; emergency calling; device-to-device direct communication and location reporting.
For more information see the full article at the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology website. https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2021/09/28/feature-article-st-tests-firstnet-push-talk-app-real-world-scenarios