Making Waves

DAMM Cellular Systems
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Making Waves is a podcast by DAMM exploring the technology, people, and challenges shaping critical communications. From PMR radio to next-gen broadband, we talk with experts and frontline users to uncover the innovations and decisions that keep teams connected when it matters most.

  1. 5d ago

    Mission-critical broadband: Collaboration, AI, and the future of public safety

    Is public safety communication facing a technology problem, or a culture problem? The world of first-responder communication is undergoing its most radical transformation in decades. We are moving away from purely voice-centric, dedicated narrowband systems like TETRA and stepping into an information-centric, broadband-driven reality. But are our organisations, legal frameworks, and frontline cultures truly ready for it? In this episode of Making Waves, hosts Stuart Will and Lone Hansen sit down with industry veteran Tero Pesonen to preview the critical themes driving the upcoming Critical Communications World (CCW) event in London. Tero shares his visionary outlook on why AI is the ultimate companion to prevent next-gen operations from remaining "science fiction," how the roadmap to 6G must be built entirely on society-level trust, and why traditional TETRA still holds a vital, resilient place in the future of critical networks. Key talking points:The power of one voice: Why a niche sector must collaborate closely to ensure commercial 4G, 5G, and 6G technologies serve public safety needs. The three pillars of transition: The distinct hurdles that engineers, politicians, and frontline users must clear to successfully roll out nationwide broadband networks. AI as the enabler: How automated network resilience and sensor fusion are shifting the industry paradigm from being "technology-limited" to "culture-limited." The roadmap to 2036: A look at the emerging European Critical Communication System (EUCCS) and what it means for cross-border missions. The longevity of TETRA: Why narrowband isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and how it fits into a multi-technology future.About: Tero Pesonen, Vice-Chair of TCCA & Chair of the Critical Communications Broadband Group (CCBG) Tero Pesonen is a globally recognised leader in the critical communications sector. Having joined the industry in 1997 during the pioneering days of TETRA, Tero dedicated his early career to turning it into a globally interoperable, multi-vendor standard. Today, as the Vice-Chair of the Critical Communications Association (TCCA) and Chair of the Critical Communications Broadband Group (CCBG), he focuses on uniting the global value chain to successfully transition public safety, disaster relief, and critical enterprises into the next era of 3GPP-based broadband (4G, 5G, and 6G).

    32 min

  2. May 26

    TETRA today, tomorrow, and beyond: Inside the work of the TETRA Industry Group

    TETRA today, tomorrow, and beyond: Inside the work of the TETRA Industry Group In the era of next-gen broadband and LTE, it is easy to focus entirely on emerging tech. But on the front lines of heavy industry and public safety, perception rarely matches operational reality. This week on Making Waves, we step inside the global strategy rooms of the critical communications ecosystem to explore how private, dedicated networks are changing, adapting, and growing. Far from being a static technology, the international community is actively investing in new enhancements - integrating everything from cutting-edge cybersecurity protocols to artificial intelligence. What you’ll discover in this conversation:The 15-year horizon: Why global migration strategies are built on a bedrock of long-term hybrid coexistence. Defending the spectrum: How the industry is strategically addressing frequency spectrum pressures and navigating international ITU allocations to protect critical users. The total cost of ownership: How manufacturers are using AI to optimise power consumption and efficiency on the network side for decades to come. Untapped potential: Why standard telemetry, SCADA applications, and user location services mean you don't always need a broadband pipe to achieve smart network operations."You have to pick up the best of every technology to build the best possible solution, not just limiting yourself to one."   Timeline: 00:00 Pre-roll episode teaser 01:16 Show intro & guest introduction 02:16 Welcome & the role of the TIG 05:11 Market reality vs. perception 07:53 Standards, cyber threats & encryption 13:16 TETRA for industrial & dedicated users 17:55 The hybrid ecosystem: Complement over competition 20:48 Innovation & the strategic 10-year future 28:04 The quick-fire round 30:31 Wrap-up & sign-off     Featured guest Francesco Pasquali | Chair of the TCCA TETRA Industry Group (TIG) Francesco has spent three decades shaping the critical communications landscape. Alongside his strategic leadership at Leonardo Cyber and Security Solutions and his seat on the TCCA Board, he chairs the TIG - the core business strategy group representing international industry leaders (including Leonardo, Motorola, Airbus, DAMM and Teltronic) to align standards, priorities, and end-user needs globally.

    33 min

  3. Apr 10

    Spotlight on Brazil : From designed need to delivery

    Making critical communications work in the real world. Designing a system is one thing; making it perform reliably under pressure is another. In this episode of Making Waves, we turn the spotlight on Brazil where vast geography and extreme industrial demands reveal what truly determines the success of mission-critical communications.  Joining us is Matheus B. Silva, COO of Alcon Engenharia de Sistemas and Kofre Tecnologia, to share hard-won lessons from the intersection of engineering, business reality, and human trust. Drawing on his experience managing hundreds of thousands of users across Brazil’s most challenging environments, Matheus unpacks: Engineering decisions that impact long-term reliability – Why the infrastructure surrounding the tech is often the weakest link.  Deployment and operational challenges – Navigating the "2-year rule" and the realities that only surface after go-live.  Cost of ownership and lifecycle thinking – How high interest rates and operational scale are shifting the industry toward "Hardware as a Service."   User adoption and trust – Why earning the confidence of the person holding the radio is as vital as the signal itself.  Preparing systems for future evolution – How to bridge the "hybrid decade" between legacy LMR and the promise of LTE.   This is a conversation packed with practical insights and a vital reminder that the real test of any communications system begins long after deployment.   Timeline: 00:00:00 Key highlights 00:01:15 Introduction and guest welcome 00:02:18 Company overview: Alcon-Kofre & D1 Capital 00:03:35 The Brazilian context: Success & strategy 00:05:07 Engineering realities: Power & infrastructure 00:07:11 Business model: Hardware as a Service (HaaS) 00:14:52 The human element: Building user trust 00:17:42 The future: Hybrid networks & LTE 00:21:11 Rapid-fire round 00:27:10 Wrap-up & closing   About: Matheus B. Silva is the COO of Alcon Engenharia de Sistemas and Kofre Tecnologia. A leader at the forefront of the "Hardware as a Service" (HaaS) model, he and his team support over 850,000 subscribers across 8,000 networks, delivering vital communication lifelines to the largest mining and energy players in Latin America.

    30 min

  4. Mar 3

    From data to decisions: AI in critical communications

    Discover how AI enhances critical communications, boosting situational awareness, decision support, and operational resilience while keeping humans in control and systems safe, secure, and trusted. Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering mission-critical environments - but how can it create real value for the people operating critical communications systems every day? In this episode, we speak with Paras Kulkarni and Walter Bensing from IrisNet about the practical application of AI in critical communications and mission-critical operations. Rather than exploring AI as a theoretical concept, the discussion focuses on operational impact: improving situational awareness, supporting human decision-making and strengthening resilience in environments where reliability and trust are essential. We explore how AI helps transform large volumes of visual data into actionable insight, how human-AI collaboration enhances safety, and why trust, ethics and transparency are fundamental when deploying AI in critical infrastructure. In this episode, we cover: • AI for situational awareness • Decision support systems • Human–AI interaction in mission-critical operations • Safety, trust and ethical AI deployment • AI in critical infrastructure environments • Operational resilience through intelligent systems A grounded conversation that cuts through the AI hype to explore where artificial intelligence genuinely delivers value in mission-critical communications, becomes a trusted operational tool - supporting people, strengthening systems and reinforcing operations where failure is not an option. Timeline: 00:03:14 Introduction: AI in critical communications 00:04:38 AI as decision support and situational awareness 00:07:08 Human control, trust and legal responsibility 00:09:54 Protecting personnel and critical infrastructure 00:11:48 How AI vision systems work in practice 00:12:50 Managing complexity and reducing false alarms 00:16:01 Integration, deployment and real-world use cases 00:17:13 Trust, security, compliance and ethics 00:23:15 Rapid-fire insights: myths, risks and opportunities 00:27:11 Future outlook and closing remarks   About IrisNet IrisNet GmbH is a Germany-based AI company specialising in visual computing and real-time image and video analysis. Its technology enables organisations to interpret live video streams, detect events and support operational decisions while keeping data processing secure and aligned with strict privacy requirements. IrisNet focuses on practical AI solutions designed for real-world industrial, safety and critical communication use cases. Learn more about Irisnet: https://irisnet.de/

    29 min

  5. Feb 18

    Leading the mission: How TCCA shapes the future of critical communications worldwide

    The connectivity fabric: Balancing trusted voice with broadband TCCA CEO Kevin Graham explores the global evolution of mission-critical standards, the multi-decade longevity of TETRA, and the strategic roadmap for agencies transitioning to MCX and hybrid broadband environments. When the mission can’t fail, the technology can’t either. But as the world moves from traditional narrowband to data-rich broadband, how do we ensure that the "trusted voice" of a first responder never disappears? In this episode of Making Waves, we sit down with Kevin Graham to unpack the complex global shift in mission-critical communications. Kevin provides a masterclass on why open standards are the only way to navigate a future where LMR, LTE, and even satellite connectivity must coexist. We dive deep into:The "connectivity fabric": Why Kevin believes agencies shouldn't just look at hardware, but at a unified architecture that works across any network. TETRA’s long horizon: Why narrowband isn’t going away anytime soon and why industry leaders are still investing heavily in its R&D. The reality of MCX: Identifying the real "readiness gaps" in mission-critical broadband - from device ecosystems to user training. Global lessons: How regions like France, Finland, South Korea, and the US are pathfinding the transition to hybrid networks.Whether you are in public safety, transport, or utilities, this conversation offers a strategic roadmap for balancing the reliability of the past with the functionality of the future. Listen in for a high-impact look at the technology that keeps the world’s protectors connected. Timeline:  0:00 Intro: Welcome to Making Waves 01:01 Meet Kevin Graham: 30 years of critical comms 02:23 The global state: Narrowband vs. data-centric futures 05:27 Why open standards matter: Multi-vendor ecosystems 07:12 The predictability of interoperability: Lessons from TETRA 08:32 The reality of MCX: Training, workflows, and readiness 10:03 Defining the "connectivity fabric": Governance & architecture 11:29 Global trends: Pathfinding in Korea, Finland, and the US 14:54 Spectrum: Securing the "oxygen" for mission-critical data 18:38 TETRA's longevity: Why industry is still investing in R&D 22:04 Sustainability & scale: Partnering with mobile operators 23:43 Successes & gaps: Lessons from FirstNet and others 27:07 Human-centric Tech: Adapting workflows for MCX 29:54 Strategic advice: A roadmap for national agencies 31:19 The TCCA community: Collaboration over competition 32:50 Upcoming 2026 events: CCW, BAPCO, and more 35:10 Episode recap: The path to a harmonised future About the guest With over 30 years of international experience, Kevin Graham is a global authority on mission-critical systems. As the CEO of TCCA, he leads the world’s premier association for standardised critical communications. Kevin has held senior engineering and executive roles across the APAC region, the USA, and Europe, playing a pivotal role in driving the open standards that secure public safety, transport, and utilities worldwide. His expertise bridges the gap between the reliable radio networks of today and the 5G and satellite innovations of tomorrow. Learn more about The Critical Communications Association - TCCA Links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DammVideoChannel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/damm-cellular-systems

    40 min

  6. Jan 6

    Bridging the future: Modernising critical comms in energy infrastructure

    Keeping a national energy network connected 24/7 leaves no room for downtime – and no room for short-term thinking. In this episode of Making Waves, we explore how large energy operators can modernise mission-critical communications without disrupting operations, safety or continuity. Joined by Witchukorn Naewwong (JC), Founder and Team Principal at Seanet Asia, this conversation goes beyond technology upgrades. It examines the strategic decisions behind transforming legacy radio networks into resilient, future-ready communication platforms across Thailand’s oil and gas sector. What does true modernisation look like when systems must operate continuously for decades? And how can operators evolve without introducing new risks? Drawing on real-world experience from pipeline networks and gas separation plants, JC shares a practitioner’s view on resilience, decentralisation and long-term sustainability. Listen in to discover: Why voice remains the foundation of mission-critical operationsHow phased migration enables transformation without downtimeDecentralised architectures and the elimination of single points of failureBridging legacy and new systems to protect long-term investmentsEnergy efficiency and sustainability as strategic design criteriaWhy the future of critical communications is hybrid by designThis is not just a technical discussion. It’s a real-world look at how large industrial operators modernise with confidence, keeping people safe today while building a foundation for the next decade.  Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 02:45 Understanding the challenge 05:58 Bridging with the future 08:47 Where technology meets sustainability 10:42 Project now and looking ahead 15:41 Wrap-up    About the guest Witchukorn Naewwong (JC) is the Founder and Team Principal at Seanet Asia, leading its mission-critical communications business. With years of hands-on experience supporting national energy and industrial operators in Thailand, JC helps organisations design and deploy communication systems that are resilient, secure and adaptable. His work focuses on long-term platform thinking – enabling operators to modernise safely while remaining ready for whatever comes next.  Learn more about Seanet Asia: https://www.seanetasia.com/en Links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DammVideoChannel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/damm-cellular-systems

    21 min

  7. 12/02/2025

    Bridging the gap: Taking a look at the MCX journey with Peter Clemons

    Keeping critical communications networks future-ready is no simple task. In this episode, we speak with Peter Clemons, founder of Quixoticity and a leading voice in mission-critical communications, about the challenges, timelines, and innovations shaping MCX adoption worldwide. What does it take to migrate from trusted PMR systems like TETRA to next-generation MCX technologies while keeping public safety connected? We explore the evolving landscape of mission-critical broadband with Peter, who shares insights from three decades of experience driving adoption, standards, and interoperability. From migration timelines and spectrum strategy to open standards and operational challenges, we unpack the factors influencing the future of critical communications. Listen in to discover: The role of MCX in modern public safety networksGlobal migration timelines and regional adoption trendsHow open standards and interoperability unlock innovationBalancing cost, resilience, and technological evolutionChapters: 00:00 Introduction 04:26 The birth of MCX 06:20 Searching for new ground 08:46 From public safety to new verticals 10:46 Clear communications are life critical 12:39 Moveable MCX timelines 15:00 Restrictive supply and service models 18:36 Interoperability is the key 21:22 One-to-many: the essence of critical communications 23:53 The challenges of migration 26:13 Open standards will unlock potential 28:27 Where cost is no barrier 31:20 Active partnerships 33:55 Indexing trends  This isn’t just a technical conversation. It’s an insider view of the people, policies, and strategic decisions shaping mission-critical communications today and for the decades ahead. Peter Clemons has 30 years’ experience in professional mobile radio and broadband critical communications. As founder of Quixoticity, he advises on MCX adoption, system integration, and international standards. Peter has worked across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, contributing to TETRA success stories and driving the evolution toward 3GPP-based mission-critical services.  Follow Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-clemons-041845/ Links: https://www.linkedin.com/company/damm-cellular-systems Youtube: https://youtu.be/3nWcLcof7Rs

    38 min

  8. 11/18/2025

    Voice on demand: Insights on strategy for mission-critical networks

    In critical communications, lives and operations depend on networks that never fail. In this episode, Terence Ledger shares insider insights on what it takes to deliver 99.999% uptime, keep users connected across sectors from public safety to mining, and prepare for the transition to hybrid and broadband networks. Hear why even the smallest details - like SIM management - can make or break a mission-critical system, and what lessons global deployments, including in the Middle East, reveal about resilience, security, and user trust. Listen in to discover: How to build networks that users can rely on, anywhere in the world The design choices that impact uptime and operational effectivenessPreparing organisations for hybrid and broadband adoptionSustainability and global support in critical communicationsThis isn’t just about technology, it’s about people, decisions, and systems that keep mission-critical communications running when it matters most. Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 03:13 Market signals and revenue strategy 11:40 Product evolution and customer benefit 16:49 Global reach & diverse sectors   20:47 Innovation, sustainability & brand trust   28:45 Vision & industry outlook   33:22 Wrap-up Terence Ledger is the Regional Director, APAC, Middle East and Africa at Sepura. He has nearly 15 years of experience shaping critical communications worldwide. His perspective blends strategic insight, operational expertise, and a deep focus on user-centric, reliable, and secure network solutions.

    35 min
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About

Making Waves is a podcast by DAMM exploring the technology, people, and challenges shaping critical communications. From PMR radio to next-gen broadband, we talk with experts and frontline users to uncover the innovations and decisions that keep teams connected when it matters most.

Information

  • Creator
    DAMM Cellular Systems
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright DAMM Cellular Systems
  • Show Website
    Making Waves