The results of the main business meeting of the year in the field of critical communications and professional radio networks.

On November 15, the X International Forum on professional networks and communication systems ProfComm 2023 organized by ComNews Information Group took place in Moscow.

More than 350 specialists took part in the event in person.

https://youtu.be/Bf-0RRUiWUQ

The Strategic Partner of the forum was NEOCOM Company, the Official Partners were the following companies: Group of Companies “Informtechnika”, MPT-Service Project, KB PULSAR-TELECOM, Group of companies “Gvardiya-plus”, ILADA Company, LEO TELECOM, The Saga Telecom Company, JSC Concern “Sozvezdie”, LLC “Elcom+”, IRZ-TELECOM, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), TRIALINK, the Innovation Partner was MS-SPETSTELECOM JSC, the Registration Partner was Kirisun Communication Co., Ltd, the Evening Reception Partner was RDP.RU Company, the Partners were: JSC “ISC “Severnaya Korona”, KODOFON Group, STC PROTEI, "Concern Goodwin (Goodwin Europe)", the forum was also held with the participation of Institute for Designing of Signaling, Centralization, Communications and Radio in Railway Transport “Giprotranssignalsvyaz” and Sviaz Expo.

As part of the forum, an exhibition was held where the innovative developments and equipment from Russian and foreign manufacturers were presented. The following companies took part in the exhibition: NEOCOM Company, ILADA Company, KB PULSAR-TELECOM, Group of companies “Gvardiya-plus”, Group of Companies “Informtechnika”, LEO TELECOM, COMBAT CENTER, Infotest-R, RDP.RU Company, JSC Concern “Sozvezdie”, The Saga Telecom Company,  STC PROTEI, LLC “Elcom+”, IRZ-TELECOM, TRIALINK, LIS Company (Laboratory of Info Communication Networks), Mobil-group Company, N3COM and MS-SPETSTELECOM JSC.

The forum was endorsed by the following industry unions and associations: ANO ТТ | Consortium Telecommunication Technologies, The Big Data Association, Electronics Developers and Manufacturers Association (EDMA), The Association of Software Developers “Domestic Soft”, RUSSOFT, The Russian Data Center Industry Association and International Telecommunications Academy (MAC).

The forum opened with a plenary session “The impact of the current political and economic situation on the PMR industry development”. The session was moderated by Leonid Konik, General Director - Editor-in-Chief, ComNews Information Group.

After Leonid Konik’s welcoming speech, a series of reports took place: Sergey Tynyankin, Director of the Center for Mobile Communications Research, Federal State Budgetary Institution “Research Institute of Radio”, spoke with the topic “National standard for professional mobile radio communication. Problems to be solved, structure and prospects for its development”. Mikhail Rybachenkov, General Director, The Saga Telecom Company, presented a report on the topic “An approach to the migration of PMR networks in new conditions”. Mikhail Rybachenkov spoke about how the broadband transport meets the requirements of the operational radio communication’ professional users in Russia in the conditions that have arisen since 2022. The main driver for the use of such transport are applications requiring high-speed data transfer, since when used for critical voice communication only, the solution is not cost-effective. The professional users’ requirements are met by a solution based on MS RTT with the formation of its own autonomous segment at the customer. Meanwhile it is important to take into account that in Russia almost all 4G frequencies are owned by operators, so the implementation of such projects will require their indispensable participation. According to Mikhail Rybachenkov, PoC technology cannot be used for critical voice communication due to the lack of technological tools that provide guaranteed access and speed of call setup in the network. The most promising in the current situation and for the next 5-7 years is a hybrid model, when critical voice communication continues to rely on narrowband technological solutions, and non-critical voice communication can be implemented on the basis of 4G transport.

The plenary session was concluded by Alexander Odinsky, Director, “Gvardiya-plus TLC”, with his report on the topic “Critical communications in the Russian Federation in current realities and their development prospects”. “In less than two years, we and our colleagues found a way out of the sanctions situation, organized large-scale assembly of equipment, wrote dispatch applications. We will strive for more: to create a full-cycle production; this requires resources, both material and, first of all, human resources. There is something to strive for!” Alexander Odinsky said in his report.

After the plenary session there was a practical panel «pLTE/5G networks: solutions, technologies, implemented projects, examples of implementation and operation».

The session was moderated by Alexey Volkov, Head of Direction, Digital Technologies and Platforms Company (EuroChem Group, SUEK, Siberian Generating Company).

The session was attended by: Mikhail Yakovlev, General Director, MPT-Service Project, with the topic “Integration of broadband and narrowband radio technologies”, Andrey Gritsenko, General Director, JSC “ISC “Severnaya Korona”, and Alexey Zudin, Head of Department, JSC “ISC “Severnaya Korona”, with the topic “Frequency spatial planning of pLTE networks”, Igor Kochetkov, Head of Private Networks Direction, STC PROTEI, with the topic “MC-PTT (Mission Critical Push-To-Talk) – broadband technological radio communication with Unified Communications elements in Private LTE/5G networks”, Alexey Berger, Head of the Secondary Network Development Department, Svyaztransneft Company, with the topic “Analysis of the possibility of building a pLTE network at linearly extended facilities”, Pavel Bakhteyarov, Head of the Industrial Communications Sales Group, MTS, with the topic “Experience in deploying dispatch radio communication systems (MC-PTT) within pLTE networks”. In his report Pavel Bakhteyarov said: “A dedicated pLTE-based network is the base of the mission-critical communications infrastructure in the industries that place high demands on coverage, performance, security and reliability to support critical business processes in the new digital reality. When implementing pLTE projects, it is important to take advantage of all mobile radio communication systems, while maintaining both the investments already made in DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) systems that use mainly voice information exchange, and while concentrating on multimedia MC-PTT (Mission Critical Push-to -Talk) systems operating over LTE and making it possible to open the full potential of modern systems for operational and industrial communication”.

Evgeny Trifonov, Development Director, Trialink GROUP, spoke with the topic “RONET EVO as a comprehensive solution for creating a private pLTE system at the Mission Critical level”. Evgeny Trifonov said: “TRIALINK Company notes an increase in interest from corporate customers in almost all market segments in the use of LTE technology as a basis for creating their own (private) pLTE network or as an opportunity to develop an existing technological communication system using the services of the telecom operator based on an existing LTE network. This approach allows for migration from existing radio communication systems to modern broadband technology, expanding significantly the capabilities of the technological communication system and integrating it into the departmental IT network. TRIALINK Company sees great demand in the Russian market for the integrated pLTE solution developed and supplied by TRIALINK”.

The following reports were presented by: Dmitry Son, Head of Wireless Solutions Direction, Directorate for Industrial Digitalization, NLMK, with the topic “Special features of implementing pLTE at enterprises of NLMK Group”, Yuri Gorshkov, Chairman of the Board of Directors, MS-SPETSTELECOM, with topic “PMR services on LTE networks: technologies, capabilities and implementation experience”. Yuri Gorshkov told the audience about 8 years of experience in operating the MS-RTT platform and the wide range of professional mobile radio services provided on its basis under the brand Everlink on LTE networks; technical and functional capabilities and implementation experience.

The forum program continued with a case study session “Examples of implementation of PMR systems. New offers from domestic hardware and software developers”. The moderator was Mikhail Rybachenkov, General Director, The Saga Telecom.

The following speakers took part in the session: Sergey Nevyantsev, Business Development Director, IRZ-Telecom, with the topic “IRZ-Telecom solutions for building cellular networks and technological radio communication DMR”, Vyacheslav Baranov, Business Development Director , NEOKOM, with the topic “NEON – Russian DMR TIER II, TIER III”. Neocom Company presented a Russian development united under the single name NEON. Vyacheslav Baranov noted: “This is a set of Russian-made hardware and software solutions that allow the integration of Kirisun equipment into TIER II, TIER III level systems”.

The report “A unified platform of wired and wireless communication systems for enterprises of any size from one domestic manufacturer” was presented by Alexander Shupikov, Head of the TETRA department, “Informtechnika & Svyaz”, with the topic “MiniCom TETRA trunking radio communication system” and Ivan Gorbachev, Head of the Direction of Unified Communications, “Informtechnika & Svyaz”, with the topic “Unified Communications Platform”. The next report was presented by Igor Nikolaev, Group Head of the Radio Department of the Technical Support, KB Pulsar-Telecom, with the topic “Russian-made communication equipment”. Igor Nikolaev spoke about the line of Russian radio communication equipment of DMR DtranPulsar standard. The company is a member of the working group and takes an active part in the development of the national standard for digital mobile radio communications. The manufacturer hopes that key customers will focus on domestic solutions in the field of professional radio communications.

Sergey Slipko, Deputy Director of the Scientific and Technical Center “Radio Communication Engineering”, JSC “Concern “Sozvezdie”, presented a report on the topic “DMR standard equipment of the Concern “Sozvezdie”. “The DMR radio stations of the Concern “Sozvezdie” is a high-quality and reliable product of entirely domestic production, which confirms that the entire line of our radio stations has received once again the status of telecom equipment of Russian origin.

Moreover, our radio stations are an exclusive development of the Concern: everything from the parts, software, circuit solutions, to the design of accessories was created by Voronezh scientists and engineers. I am confident that obtaining the status of telecom equipment of Russian origin will contribute to solving the tasks set by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the field of import substitution and providing reliable, highly professional communications to the civil sphere, including various government departments and services”, Sergei Slipko summed up his speech.

The next presentations were made by: Leonid Istomin, Development Director, Ilada Group, with the topic “LIRA DMR solutions for small and medium-sized radio communication systems”, Andrey Leksin, General Director, “Digital Radio Communication Systems” and Maxim Zagorodnikov, Director of the “Wave Network” direction, LEO TELECOM, with the topic “MANET technology in Russia”. Maxim Zagorodnikov noted: “LEO TELECOM Company joins its efforts with leading Russian manufacturers and introduces to the market a new brand of equipment for professional digital radio communication and wireless broadband data transmission – INTRANK. The INTRANK-MS line of radio equipment is based on unique Russian technology for dynamic radio communication systems, which ensures rapid deployment, high quality and fault tolerance of the radio network, especially in difficult landscapes, industrial facilities with shielded and underground premises, and which does not involve the use of routers, repeaters and base stations in the network, and also allows you to flexibly organize the radio communication system for an unlimited number of subscribers”.

The next report was made by Radislav Gaifulin, General Director, Saga Inc., with the topic “Practical aspects of the transition from Motorola DMR systems to the other vendors’ systems”. Radislav Gaifulin spoke about the practical aspects of transition from Motorola PMR solutions in the new conditions and highlighted the key factors that determine the choice of the optimal transition scenario or the choice of solution for new construction. There are full-fledged solutions both for those customers who are allowed to use only equipment from the telecom equipment of Russian origin registry, and for customers that are classified as critical infrastructure. The full line of TETRA equipment and solutions is available, while we recommend converting APCO25 trunking solutions to the DMR standard based solutions. A key element for effective migration is the availability of software for connecting Motorola equipment and new PMR equipment, which is now available on the Russian market. “In the next 3-7 years our customers using PMR systems will face acute issues of switching to domestic or Chinese-made equipment. Meanwhile, having become accustomed to the quality, reliability and functionality of Motorola, most customers are not ready for significant compromises. And most often they are not ready to throw out Motorola either. There is a need of reliable scripts and tools for a smooth transition. Saga, together with partners – manufacturers HYTERA, Pulsar and Elcom+, has worked for a year and successfully implements such projects even in the most difficult cases in terms of requirements”, the speaker noted in his report.

Alexander Garmonov, General Director of Kodofon Group of Companies, spoke on the topic “A way to expand the coverage area of professional mobile communication networks”. Kodofon Group of Companies has proposed an innovative technology that forms coverage areas for professional mobile radio communication (PMR) in almost any remote area, by forming a transport communication channel for the PMR IP repeater by aggregating communication channels of cellular and/or satellite and/or Wi-Fi communication networks.

Further reports were presented by Mikhail Nagorsky, Technical Director, Concern Goodwin, with the topic “Integration of professional radio communication with personnel monitoring at industrial facilities when performing hazardous work” and Alexey Kuznetsov, Director of the Technological Communications Business Department, Elcom+, with the topic “Russian radio communication system of the DMR standard “Radius-IP”: dispatch control and increasing the efficiency and safety of enterprises”. Alexey Kuznetsov said that “Radius-IP” is a radio communication system of the DMR standard, produced by Elcom+ since 2010. In 2022, the system software was transferred to Linux OS and supports all system topologies, including Tier III. Moreover, the system allows not only to organize dispatch radio communication and control, but also to integrate itself into customer systems and software thanks to its own API. The core of the system is Elcom+ developed in-house software that allows developing the previously implemented systems using modern, available equipment.

The business program of the forum was concluded by the discussion club “Space services for critical communications tasks in Russia”. The session was moderated by Alexey Volkov, Head of Direction, Digital Technologies and Platforms Company (EuroChem Group, SUEK, Siberian Generating Company). The session was attended by: Valentin Anpilogov, Deputy General Director, Visat-Tel, with the topic “Low-orbit data transmission system “Marathon IoT”, Andrey Manoilo, Deputy General Director for Operations, Gonets Satellite System, with the topic “Gonets” of a new generation” about the deployment and launch into commercial operation of the “Gonets-M1” constellation and user equipment for working with “Gonets-M1” spacecraft, and Roman Yakovlev, Deputy General Director for the development of infocommunication projects in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, Atomdata (State Corporation Rosatom), with the topic “Arctic and Space” about satellite communication systems for northern latitudes.

The experts also discussed the topic “Hybrid low-orbit D2D systems – direct contact with smartphone”. Andrey Lipatov, Head of the Department of the Scientific and Technical Center for Satellite Telecommunications Systems, Federal State Budgetary Institution “Research Institute of Radio”, Alexey Kosmynin, General Director, Matrixwave, and Andrey Gritsenko, General Director, JSC “ISC “Severnaya Korona”, participated in the discussion.

The forum participants continued their interaction and summed up the results of the event in informal surroundings at the evening reception. The partner of the evening reception was RDP Company. Maria Selezneva, Leading Communications Manager at RDP, greeted the forum participants: “RDP is a team of professionals focused on innovation, and we are pleased to take part in the ProfComm forum this year, first of all because this is the place where exactly such solutions are discussed, and secondly, this is a platform for dialogue and communication among professionals in a fairly narrow industry, which, nevertheless, is now key and strategically important”.

Sergey Slipko, Deputy Director of the Scientific and Technical Center “Radio Communication Engineering” of JSC “Concern “Sozvezdie”, noted following the event: “The ProfComm platform is an excellent opportunity for leading Russian developers and manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and software to talk about their products, solutions and services, exchange experiences, establish a meaningful dialogue with potential partners”.

Alexander Garmonov, General Director of Kodofon Group of Companies, said: “The forum was well organized and demonstrated the great progress of Russian companies in the direction of innovation and import substitution”.

ComNews Information Group thanks all partners, speakers, moderators and participants of the ProfComm 2023 forum!

We are waiting for you at the ProfComm forum in autumn 2024!