2027 Agenda

Mission Critical Services includes voice (MCPTT) but its real power may very well reside in reliable video and data. While voice is still considered the killer app, the value for first responders to be able to capture video from inside of the incident, to be able to increase situational awareness from drones, and the ability to better assess the environmental conditions from the ever-increasing number of sensors, will surely change the way that first responders complete their mission.

While the impact of these new-found capabilities is immense, it is important to not underestimate the value that Sidelink, a part of the 3GPP MCX, brings to the table. No one can guarantee that there will never be a loss of network connectivity, but what Sidelink adds to the mix is the ability to communicate with other first responders within the first responders' close proximity. This is the E in PACE - the ability to communicate when all else fails.

MCX services and Sidelink provide the ability to share prioritized voice, data and video when needed and where needed regardless of network congestion or network failure. This panel of MCX thought leaders will discuss the current status of MCX deployments, what 6G, AI and other future enhancements will add and what we need to do to ensure end-to-end prioritization for first responders between separate networks.