12.5 kHz Narrowbanding

1
12.5 kHz Narrowbanding
The Mandate to 12.5 kHz Operations Meeting the
FCC Narrowbanding Requirements
2
What is Narrowbanding?

• Federal Communications Commission is mandating
  all Public Safety and Industrial/Business
  licensees must convert existing 25 kHz efficiency
  operations in VHF and UHF to minimum 12.5 kHz
  efficiency analog or digital operation by January
  1, 2013
• To get there, the FCC set interim deadline
  requirements on licensees and manufacturers
• FCC has NOT set any date by which licensees must
  operate in 6.25 kHz efficiency

3
Licensee Interim Requirements
January 1, 2011

• New license applications must specify at least
  12.5 kHz efficiency
• License modification applications to expand
  authorized service areas must specify at least
  12.5 kHz efficiency

4
Manufacturer Interim Requirements

• February 14, 1997
• Radio equipment certification submittals must
  include a 12.5 kHz efficiency mode can be dual
  mode 25/12.5 kHz efficiency
• January 1, 2011
• Can no longer certify, manufacture or import 25
  kHz capable equipment must disable mode via
  software
• New radio equipment certification submittals must
  include a 6.25 kHz efficiency mode can be dual
  mode 12.5/6.25 kHz efficiency

5
Motorolas Support of Narrowbanding

• Motorola offers the broadest choice of two-way
  radio equipment capable of
• operating in 12.5 kHz efficiency.
• Motorola has almost 60 models that operate at
  12.5 kHz.
• Motorola has been preparing for 12.5 kHz for over
  a decade to enable a smooth transition.
• All Motorola radios certified since Feb 1997 meet
  the 12.5 kHz capability requirement. Most can
  operate in 12.5 kHz simply with a software
  upgrade.
• Motorola has experts who regularly work with the
  FCC so we understand the issues and prepare in
  advance.
• Motorola offers a seamless path to 12.5 kHz,
  allowing you to transition at your own pace.
• Motorola radios are backwards compatible so they
  can operate in dual mode (12.5 kHz or 25 kHz),
  allowing your organization to transition to 12.5
  kHz at your own pace up to the FCC deadline.
• Increase capacity and meet the Narrowbanding
  mandate without applying for a second channel.
• Motorola is shipping two complete product
  families that provide greater than 12.5 kHz
  efficiency.
• ASTRO 25 with APX radios for mission critical
  applications
• MOTOTRBO product line for business critical
  applications

6
Most of Your Motorola Radios Are Probably
12.5kHz Compliant
Motorola offers the broadest choice of two-way
radio equipment with close to 60 models capable
of operating in 12.5 kHz efficiency

• Motorola radios certified after 1997 are 12.5kHz
  capable
• Customers operating at 25kHz need to re-program
  or replace radios for 12.5kHz operation by
  January 1, 2013
• Update FCC license for narrowband compliancy by
  January 1, 2011

7
Technology Equivalency
Motorola offers a seamless path to 12.5 kHz,
allowing you to transition at your own pace.

• 12.5 kHz Efficiency
• One voice path in 12.5 kHz
• Two voice paths in 25 kHz
• Data rates 4.8 kbps per 6.25 kHz
• 9.6 kbps in 12.5 kHz
• 19.2 kbps in 25 kHz

8
Technology Equivalency

Motorola is shipping two complete product
families that provide greater than 12.5 kHz
efficiency.

• 6.25 kHz Efficiency
• One voice path in 6.25 kHz
• Two voice paths in 12.5 kHz
• Four voice paths in 25 kHz
• Data rates 4.8 kbps per 6.25 kHz
• 9.6 kbps in 12.5 kHz
• 19.2 kbps in 25 kHz

MOTOTRBOTM Subscriber Family
APXTM P25 Subscriber Family
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Narrowband Exceptions

• Paging is exempt only on the paging channels
• Can operate at 25 kHz after Jan.1, 2013
• Paging on any other Part 90 channel must switch
  to 12.5 kHz
• Low Power (2 watts or less) equipment is exempt
  only from certification for 6.25 kHz efficiency
  mode capability
• No low power exemption for licensees must
  switch to 12.5 kHz

10
Narrowbanding Myths Truths

• Licensees must implement digital technology
• No, narrowband operation in either analog or
  digital is acceptable

11
Narrowbanding Myths Truths

• Licensees must implement digital technology
• Licensees end up with twice as many channels
• No, Narrowbanding will provide greater spectrum
  efficiency, but not additional channels.

12
Narrowbanding Myths Truths

• Licensees must implement digital technology
• Licensees end up with twice as many channels
• Hundreds of new channels will be available in
  2013
• No, the spectrum allocation will be the same,
  however the spectrum efficiency will be improved

13
Narrowbanding Myths Truths

• Licensees must implement digital technology
• Licensees end up with twice as many channels
• Hundreds of new channels will be available in
  2013
• Interference may occur to existing 25 kHz systems
• Yes, narrowbanded channels may adversely impact
  remaining 25 kHz operations and newer
  technologies are more robust than incumbent 25
  kHz systems

14
Narrowbanding Myths Truths

• Licensees must implement digital technology
• Licensees end up with twice as many channels
• Hundreds of new channels will be available in
  2013
• Interference may occur to existing 25 kHz systems
• 25 kHz may be continued after January 2013 by
  waiver
• No, the FCC has provided no such indication

15
Narrowbanding Myths Truths

• Licensees must implement digital technology
• Licensees end up with twice as many channels
• Hundreds of new channels will be available in
  2013
• Interference may occur to existing 25 kHz systems
• 25 kHz may be continued after January 2013 by
  waiver
• A 6.25 kHz date certain will be adopted by the
  FCC
• Perhaps, but well into the future. The FCC has
  spent over 20 years on the 12.5 kHz Narrowbanding
  initiative. If they moved at lightening speed it
  would take more than 10 years

16
Narrowbanding Myths Truths

• Licensees must implement digital technology
• Licensees end up with twice as many channels
• Hundreds of new channels will be available in
  2013
• Interference may occur to existing 25 kHz systems
• 25 kHz may be continued after January 2013 by
  waiver
• A 6.25 kHz date certain will be adopted by the
  FCC
• I can request two 6.25 kHz channels from my 12.5
  kHz narrowband license
• No, the FCC will grant 6.25 kHz channels on the
  existing 6.25 kHz band plan.

17
Next Steps - Now is the time to start PREPARING

• Take inventory of your current radio equipment to
  verify it is 12.5 kHz capable
• Identify radios that can be reprogrammed
• Identify radios that need to be replaced
• Review Current System Requirements
• Operations have likely changed, understand
  potential new system design opportunities
• Consider narrowband analog performance impact
• Develop operational and funding plans to replace
  non 12.5 kHz capable equipment
• Contact Action Communications at 1-308-632-7836
  or 1-800-558-7836 for license modifications,
  equipment replacements or software upgrades.