HIT-GATE · Heterogeneous Interoperable Transportable GATEway for First-Responders

The HIT-GATE Consortium goal is to develop a generic gateway that allows communications across networks currently used by first responders in Europe. It is well known that, all over Europe, current first-responder networks use a large number of different and incompatible technologies therefore compromising efficient coordination of combined operations (such as cross-border or crisis management). It is also known that European organizations dealing with public-safety have invested in dedicated critical systems (to ensure high-availability and reliability). This includes dedicated networks of, among others, PMR (Professional Mobile Radio) and, more specifically, TETRA (TErrestrial Trunked RAdio). Moreover, with the fast development of communications technologies, new capabilities and opportunities are being adopted and exploited by early-adopters FRs, such as ad-hoc mesh broadband networks, able to provide and/or extend connectivity over affected areas (e.g., underground and destroyed area) and to deliver high data throughput (higher than 5Mbps)Therefore, to answer FRs needs, HIT-GATE will be developed to support a mix of technologies used today by organizations involved in Public-Safety, ranging from legacy-PMR, TETRA to next-generation networks. In this way, organizations may keep their existing systems and/or adopt novel technologies, since the proposed HIT-GATE solution is future proof and ensures communications interoperability between the networks (limited, of course, to the limitations in capabilities of each network). HIT-GATE will also enable communications across heterogeneous networks between first responders during operations. By connecting HIT-GATE to their networks, FRs may continue to use their current receiver equipments, communications base-stations and communications infrastructures.