thumb|TETRA DMO Amateur radio repeater
Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA; formerly known as Trans-European Trunked Radio), a European standard for a trunked radio system, is a professional mobile radio and two-way transceiver specification. TETRA was specifically designed for use by government agencies, emergency services, (police forces, fire departments, ambulance) for public safety networks, rail transport staff for train radios, transport services and the military. TETRA is the European version of trunked radio, similar to Project 25.
TETRA is a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standard, first version published 1995; it is mentioned by the European Radiocommunications Committee (ERC).
Description
TETRA uses time-division multiple access (TDMA) with four user channels on one radio carrier and 25 kHz spacing between carriers. Both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint transfer can be used. Digital data transmission is also included in the standard though at a low data rate.
TETRA Mobile Stations (MS) can communicate direct-mode operation (DMO) or using trunked-mode operation (TMO) using switching and management infrastructure (SwMI) made of TETRA base stations (TBS). As well as allowing direct communications in situations where network coverage is not available, DMO also includes the possibility of using a sequence of one or more TETRA terminals as relays. This functionality is called DMO gateway (from DMO to TMO) or DMO repeater (from DMO to DMO). In emergency situations this feature allows direct communications underground or in areas of bad coverage.
In addition to voice and dispatch services, the TETRA system supports several types of data communication. Status messages and short data services (SDS) are provided over the system's main control channel, while packet-switched data or circuit-switched data communication uses specifically assigned channels.
TETRA provides for authentication of terminals towards infrastructure and vice versa. For protection against eavesdropping, air interface encryption and end-to-end encryption is available.
The common mode of operation is in a group calling mode in which a single button push will connect the user to the users in a selected call group and/or a dispatcher. It is also possible for the terminal to act as a one-to-one walkie talkie but without the normal range limitation since the call still uses the network. TETRA terminals can act as mobile phones (cell phones), with a full-duplex direct connection to other TETRA Users or the PSTN. Emergency buttons, provided on the terminals, enable the users to transmit emergency signals, to the dispatcher, overriding any other activity taking place at the same time.
Advantages
The main advantages of TETRA over other technologies (such as GSM) are:
- The much lower frequency used gives longer range, which in turn permits very high levels of geographic coverage with a smaller number of transmitters, thus cutting infrastructure costs.
- During a voice call, the communications are not interrupted when moving to another network site. This is a unique feature, which dPMR networks typically provide, that allows a number of fall-back modes such as the ability for a base station to process local calls. So called 'mission critical' networks can be built with TETRA where all aspects are fail-safe/multiple-redundant.
- In the absence of a network, mobiles/portables can use 'direct mode' whereby they share channels directly (walkie-talkie mode).
- Gateway mode - where a single mobile with connection to the network can act as a relay for other nearby mobiles that are out of range of the infrastructure. A dedicated transponder system isn't required in order to achieve this functionality, unlike with analogue radio systems.
- TETRA also provides a point-to-point function that traditional analogue emergency services radio systems did not provide. This enables users to have a one-to-one trunked 'radio' link between sets without the need for the direct involvement of a control room operator/dispatcher.
- Unlike cellular technologies, which connect one subscriber to one other subscriber (one-to-one), TETRA is built to do one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-many. These operational modes are directly relevant to the public safety and professional users.
- Security TETRA supports terminal registration, authentication, air-interface encryption and end-to-end encryption.
- Rapid deployment (transportable) network solutions are available for disaster relief and temporary capacity provision.
- Network solutions are available in both reliable circuit-switched (telephone like) architectures and flat, IP architectures with soft (software) switches.
Further information is available from the TETRA Association (formerly TETRA MoU) and the standards can be downloaded for free from ETSI.
Disadvantages
Its main disadvantages are:
- Security issues have been identified, although mitigations were quickly introduced in the TETRA security standard. There was an intentional weakening of the TEA1 cipher to meet export control criteria, allowing a break within a minute on consumer hardware. (See Description)
- Requires a linear amplifier to meet the stringent RF specifications that allow it to exist alongside other radio services.
- Data transfer is slow by modern standards.
Up to 7.2 kbit/s per timeslot, in the case of point-to-point connections, and 3.5 kbit/s per timeslot in case of IP encapsulation.
Both options permit the use of between one and four timeslots.
Different implementations include one of the previous connectivity capabilities, both, or none, and one timeslot or more.
These rates are ostensibly faster than the competing technologies DMR, dPMR, and P25 are capable of.
Latest version of standard supports 115.2 kbit/s in 25 kHz or up to 691.2 kbit/s in an expanded 150 kHz channel. To overcome the limitations many software vendors have begun to consider hybrid solutions where TETRA is used for critical signalling while large data synchronization and transfer of images and video is done over 3G / LTE / 5G.
Technical details
Radio aspects
For its modulation TETRA, uses differential quadrature phase-shift keying. The symbol (baud) rate is 18,000 symbols per second, and each symbol maps to 2 bits, thus resulting in 36,000 bit/s gross.
As a form of phase shift keying is used to transmit data during each burst, it would seem reasonable to expect the transmit power to be constant. However it is not. This is because the sidebands, which are essentially a repetition of the data in the main carrier's modulation, are filtered off with a sharp filter so that unnecessary spectrum is not used up. This results in an amplitude modulation and is why TETRA requires linear amplifiers. The resulting ratio of peak to mean (RMS) power is 3.65 dB. If non-linear (or not-linear enough) amplifiers are used, the sidebands re-appear and cause interference on adjacent channels. Commonly used techniques for achieving the necessary linearity include Cartesian loops, and adaptive predistortion.
The base stations normally transmit continuously and (simultaneously) receive continuously from various mobiles on different carrier frequencies; hence the TETRA system is a frequency-division duplex (FDD) system. TETRA also uses FDMA/TDMA (see above) like GSM. The mobiles normally only transmit on 1 slot/4 and receive on 1 slot/4 (instead of 1 slot/8 for GSM).
Speech signals in TETRA are sampled at 8 kHz and then compressed with a vocoder using algebraic code-excited linear prediction (ACELP). This creates a data stream of 4.567 kbit/s. This data stream is error-protection encoded before transmission to allow correct decoding even in noisy (erroneous) channels. The data rate after coding is 7.2 kbit/s. The capacity of a single traffic slot when used 17/18 frames.
A single slot consists of 255 usable symbols, the remaining time is used up with synchronisation sequences and turning on/off, etc. A single frame consists of 4 slots, and a multiframe (whose duration is 1.02 seconds) consists of 18 frames. Hyperframes also exist, but are mostly used for providing synchronisation to encryption algorithms.
The downlink (i.e., the output of the base station) is normally a continuous transmission consisting of either specific communications with mobile(s), synchronisation or other general broadcasts. All slots are usually filled with a burst even if idle (continuous mode). Although the system uses 18 frames per second only 17 of these are used for traffic channels, with the 18th frame reserved for signalling, Short Data Service messages (like SMS in GSM) or synchronisation. The frame structure in TETRA (17.65 frames per second), consists of 18,000 symbols/s; 255 symbols/slot; 4 slots/frame, and is the cause of the perceived "amplitude modulation" at 17 Hz and is especially apparent in mobiles/portables which only transmit on one slot/4. They use the remaining three slots to switch frequency to receive a burst from the base station two slots later and then return to their transmit frequency (TDMA).
Radio frequencies
thumb|Chart to visualize the bands used for TETRA in Europe
{| class="wikitable"
|+ TETRA frequencies in South America
|-
! rowspan="2" | Number !! colspan="2" | Frequency pair (MHz)
|-
! Band 1 !! Band 2
|-
! colspan="3" | Emergency systems
|-
| 1 || 380–383 || 390–393
|-
| 2 || 383–385 || 393–395
|-
! colspan="3" | Civil systems
|-
| 1 || 410–420 || 420–430
|-
| 2 || 870–876 || 915–921
|-
| 3 || 450–460 || 460–470
|-
| 4 || 385–390 || 395–399.9
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ TETRA frequencies in other countries
|-
! Country
! Allocation
! Frequency pairs (MHz)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" rowspan="2" | France
| Civilian/private
| 410–430
|-
| Emergency services
| 380–400
|-
| rowspan="2" | Belgium
| Emergency services/civilian
| 380–386.5, 390–396.5
|-
|Commercial
|410-420
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" rowspan="2" | the Netherlands
| Emergency services
| 380–386.5, 390–396.5
|-
| Civil/Commercial
| 410–430
|-
| Germany
| Emergency services
| 380–385, 390–395, 406 - 410 for DMO
|-
| Iceland
| Emergency services/civilian
| 380–385, 390–395
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" rowspan="2" | Ireland
| Civilian/private
| 385–389.9, 395–399.9
|-
| Emergency services
| 380–385, 390–395
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" rowspan="2" | Italy
| Emergency services / armed forces
| 380–390
|-
| Civilian/private
| 462
|-
| Norway
| Emergency services
| 380–385, 390–395, 406.1–426, 870–876
|-
| Slovenia
| Emergency services
| 380-385 (MS), 390-395 (BS)
|-
| South Africa
| Emergency services, Public works
| 420–423
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2"| Sweden
|Emergency services
|380-395
|-
|Civilian/airport/public transportation
|425-429
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="5"| UK
| Airwave
| 390.0125–394.9875, 380.0125–384.9875
|-
| Airwave (London only)
| 420.0125-421.9875, 410.0125–412.9875
|-
| Prison service
| 450, 460 / 452, 462
|-
| AirRadio
| 454, 464 or 460
|-
| Offshore Oil platforms
| 423, 413
|-
| rowspan="2" |Hong Kong
|Emergency services
|382.65–399.9, 410–430
|-
|Civil/Private
|806–818, 851–863
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2"| Portugal
| SIRESP - Public Safety
| 380–395
|-
| Commercial/Private
| 420–430
|-
| Saudi Arabia
|
| 350–370, 380–395, 385–399.99, 410–430, 450–470, 870–921
|}
Air interface encryption
To provide confidentiality the TETRA air interface is encrypted using one of the TETRA Encryption Algorithm (TEA) ciphers. The encryption provides confidentiality (protect against eavesdropping) as well as protection of signalling.
Currently 7 different ciphers are standardized: TEA1 to TEA4 in TEA Set A and TEA5 to TEA7 in TEA Set B. These TEA ciphers should not be confused with the block cipher Tiny Encryption Algorithm. The TEA ciphers have different availability due to export control and use restrictions. In the past few details were published concerning these proprietary ciphers. Riess mentions in early TETRA design documents that encryption should be done with a stream cipher, due to the property of not propagating transmission errors. Parkinson later confirms this and explains that TEA is a stream cipher with 80-bit keys. The algorithms were later reversed and it appeared that TEA1 reduces its key strength to 32 bits to allow exportability under the Wassenaar arrangement. TEA1 and TEA4 provide basic level security, and are meant for commercial use. The TEA2 cipher is restricted to European public safety organisations. The TEA3 cipher is for situations where TEA2 is suitable but not available.
Security vulnerabilities of the air interface encryption
An in-depth review published in July 2023 by the company Midnight Blue of the TETRA standard and encryption algorithms, claims multiple security flaws, referred by the company as "TETRA:BURST". A total of 5 flaws were filed to the CVE database:
- The Air Interface Encryption (AIE) keystream generator is vulnerable to decryption oracle attacks due to the use of publicly-broadcast network time Mitigations for this were introduced into version 4 of the TETRA standard.
- TEA1 contains a reduction step that effectively downgrades the cryptographic strength from 80 to 32 bits implemented to allow export under the Wassenaar convention, The reduction in strength of TEA1 seems to be known in intelligence circles and is referred to in the famous 2006 Wikileaks dump of US diplomatic communications.
Advances in DSP technology have led to the introduction of multi-carrier transmission standards employing QAM modulation. WiMAX, Wi-Fi and TEDS standards are part of this family.
Refer also to:
- JSR-118;
- Mobile Information Device Profile, JSR-37;
- Wireless Messaging API, JSR120;
- Connected Limited Device Configuration, JSR-139; and
- Technology for the Wireless Industry, JTWI-185.
Comparison to Project 25
Project 25 and TETRA are utilised for the public safety Radio network and Private Sector Radio network worldwide however, it has some differences in technical features and capacities.
- TETRA: It is optimized for high population density areas, with spectral efficiency (4 time slots in 25 kHz: four communications channels per 25 kHz channel, an efficient use of spectrum). It is suitable for high population density areas and supports full duplex voice, data and messaging; but, it is generally unavailable for simulcast, VHF band - however particular vendors have introduced Simulcast and VHF into their TETRA platform..
- P25: it is optimized for wider area coverage with low population density, and support for simulcast. however, it is limited to data support. (Phase 1 P25 radio systems operate in a 12.5 kHz analogue, digital or mixed mode, and P25 Phase II will use a 2-timeslot TDMA structure in 12.5 kHz channels.)
Currently, P25 deployed to more than 53 countries and TETRA deployed to more than 114 countries.
Professional usage
there were 114 countries using TETRA systems in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Caribbean and Latin America.
The TETRA system is in use in the following countries. Only TETRA network infrastructure installations are listed. TETRA being an open standard, each of these networks can use any mix of TETRA mobile terminals from a wide range of suppliers.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Continent
! Country
! Supplier
! Name
! Agency
! Status
|-
| rowspan="50" style="vertical-align:top;" | Asia
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="4"| China mainland
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| Shenyang Metro
| Transport
| In use: Line 1<br />Rolling out: Line 2
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex
| Guangzhou Electric Power
| Utility - Guangzhou Electric Power Emergency Communication
| In use 2010
|-
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| Shenzhen Metro
| Transport
| Ordered 5/2010
|-
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| Guangzhou
| 16th Asian Games in 2010
| Ordered 2010
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)
| 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Games (Hong Kong Equestrian Event)
| Used from July 2008 to October 2008
|-
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
|Hong Kong Fire Services Department
| Fire service and ambulance
| In use
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
|Hong Kong Police Force
| Police
| In use
|-
|Motorola
|Correctional Services Department
|Law enforcement
|In use
|-
|Motorola
|Immigration Department
|Law enforcement
|In use
|-
|Motorola
| Mass Transit Railway (MTR)
| Transport
| In use
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
| Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)
| Transport
| In use since Feb 2009
|-
|Motorola
|CLP Power Hong Kong Limited
|Electric
|In use
|-
|
|Hongkong Electric Co., Limited
|Electric
|In use
|-
|
|Modern Terminals Limited
|Container port
|In use
|-
|
|Hong Kong International Terminals Limited
|Container port
|In use
|-
|
|Liaison Office of the Central People Government in the HKSAR
|Diplomacy
|In use
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="10"| India
|Artevea
|Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE)
| Indian Army
| In use since 2004 at Mhow, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
|Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
| Transport
| The First TETRA in India, in use since 2002
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex / Consort Digital Pvt Ltd
| Mumbai Mono Rail, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA)
| Mass transport - India's first monorail project - Mumbai
| Awarded 2010
|-
| C-DAC
| TETRA with Automatic Dial 100 (AD100)
| Kerala police
| In use by police, Trivandrum city, since 2008
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex / Consort Digital Pvt Ltd
|Tamil Nadu police
| Police and internal security and safety
| Awarded 2011
|-
| HCL & Motorola
| Secure Communication Network
| Delhi government
| Integrated Communication System used by various departments under government of Delhi and Delhi police since 2010.
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex / Consort Digital Pvt Ltd
|Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL)
| Gas pipeline - safety, telemetry and security
| Awarded 2011
|-
| THALES Portugal S A & Motorola
| With PSTN call integration designed by Thales Group for BMRCL
| BMRCL Bangalore Metro Corporation Limited
| Transport, in use since March 2011
|-
| Sepura & Rohde and Schwarz
| TETRA with Automatic Dial 100 (AD100)
| Gurgaon police
| In use by police, Gurgaon city Since 2009. In Salem from August 2011.
|-
| Sepura & Rohde and Schwarz
| TETRA with Automatic Dial 100 (AD100)
| Faridabad police
| In use by police, Faridabad city, since 2012
|-
| rowspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;" | Indonesia
| Motorola / Dimetra, installed & maintained by PT. Mobilkom Telekomindo
| SCADA PT. Chevron Pacific Indonesia
| HOOU
| In use since 2009 at Duri, Riau, Indonesia.
|-
|Rohde & Schwarz / Accessnet - T
|Anti Corruption Agency
|Anti Corruption Agency
|Operational
|-
| Rohde & Schwarz / Accessnet-T
| Jakarta State Government Network
| Jakarta Capital City Jakarta
| Operational, Installed since 2007
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Kazakhstan
| style="vertical-align: top;" |HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
| align="left" valign="top" |Kazakhstan Railways
|Public Transport
|In use
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2"| Macao
| Artevea
| Melco-Crown Entertainment
| Casino-Hotels: Altira (formerly Crown Macau), and City of Dreams
| In use since 2007
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
| Forças de Segurança de Macau
| All emergency services
| In use
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="3"| Malaysia
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| Segi Maju (SEGI)
| Public operator
| In use
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
|Sungai Buloh–Kajang line.
| Transport
| In use
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
|Sungai Buloh–Serdang–Putrajaya line.
| Transport
| Operational 2021
|-
|Maldives
| Motorola / Dimetra
|Maldives Police Service (MPS)
| Police
| In use
|-
| Pakistan
| Motorola / Dimetra
| NITRS Nationwide Integrated Trunk Radio System Project for Police under Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan
| Police
| In use Since 2009
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="4"| Philippines
| Motorola Dimetra/GA Technology and Systems Inc.
| Shell Exploration
| Oil and gas
| In use October 2013, Phase 2 On Shore Gas Plant for Implementation
|-
| Motorola Dimetra/GA Technology and Systems Inc.
|Globe Telecom
| Telecommunications carrier
| Implementation on Going Project Finish Dec 2013
|-
| Rohill (TetraNode) SynTech Systems Inc.
|Meralco
| Electric company
| Implemented Nov 2014
|-
| Rohill (TetraNode) SynTech Systems Inc.
| Manila Line 2
| Transport (Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2)
| Implemented Oct 2015
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Singapore
|Leonardo
|Singapore Metro
|TETRA network for Cross Island Line
|Awarded in 2025
Currently in deployment
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Leonardo
|Singapore Metro
|TETRA network for Jurong Line
|Awarded in 2021
Currently in deployment
|-
| South Korea
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
|Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO)
|Electricity
|In use
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Taiwan
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Leonardo
|Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation Metro Service
|TETRA network for Taipei Metro
|Awarded in 2024
Currently in deployment
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="5"|Taiwan
|
|Taiwan Railway
|Transport
|In use
|-
|
|Taiwan High Speed Rail
|Transport
|In use
|-
|
|Taipei Metro
|Transport
|In use
|-
|
|Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit
|Transport
|In use
|-
|
|Coast Guard Administration (Taiwan)
|Republic of China Armed Forces
|In use
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Thailand
|Leonardo
|Bangkok Metro
|TETRA network for Orange Line
|Awarded in 2025
Currently in deployment
|-
| rowspan="20" style="vertical-align:top;" | Africa
| rowspan="2" | Algeria
| Rohde & Schwarz
|Sonatrach
| Oil & gas company
| In use since 2003.
|-
| Sepura
|Sonelgaz
| Power utility
| In use.
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Egypt
|Motorolasolutions
Dimetra IP
|MERC
|Ministry of Interior, Suez Canal Authority, Oil& GAS and commercial users
|In use, Nationwide
|-
| Morocco
| Rohill
| ADM
| Highway authority
| Rolling out / Almost completed.
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="6"| Nigeria
| Dizengoff/Motorola IL (Dimetra IP)
|Nigeria LNG
| Nigeria LNG|Oil & gas
| Since 2006
|-
| Cisan International Limited/Rohill (TetraNode)
|Mobil Ng
| Mobila Ng| Oil
| Since 2014
|-
| Dizengoff/Motorola IL (Compact-Tetra IP)
|Shell Ng
| Shell Ng| Oil
| Since 2010
|-
| Satcomm Integrated Resources LLC SatCom IRL/EADS
|
| Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria (rolling out)
| Rolling out
|-
| Rohill (TetraNode)
|Bayelsa State
| Government
| Since June 2012
|-
| Briscoe Technologies / Hytera Accessnet
| Lagos / Abuja / Port Harcourt
| Oil industry / airports / security companies
| In use Since 2006
|-
| Namibia
| Artevea
|Namibian Police Force
| Police
| In use, nationwide
|-
| rowspan="7" style="vertical-align: top;" |South Africa
| style="vertical-align: top;" |HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|Sasol
|Oil & Gas
|In use
|-
| Motorola Solutions DIMETRA
| Police, traffic police
| SAPS Gauteng
| Gauteng province
|-
| Motorola Solutions DIMETRA
| Municipality, fire, and ambulance.
| City of Cape Town
| Cape Peninsula
|-
| Rohill (TetraNode)
|Mbombela Local Municipality
| Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
| Complete
|-
| Rohill (TetraNode)
| City Power
| Johannesburg, Gauteng
| Complete
|-
| Rohill (TetraNode)
| City of Tshwane Municipality
| Pretoria, Gauteng
| Complete
|-
| Rohill (TetraNode)
| Rustenburg Platinum Mine
| Potgietersrus, Limpopo
| Complete
|-
| Sudan
| Artevea
| Ministry of Interior
| Police
|In use, nationwide
|-
|Uganda
|HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|Entebbe international Airport
|Airports
|In use
|-
| rowspan="75" style="vertical-align:top;" | Europe
| rowspan="2" | Austria
| Motorola / Dimetra
| TETRON
| Police, fire, ambulance, and local train company.
| In use
|-
|HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|Red Bull Arena, Salzburg
|Events
|In use
|-
| rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;" | Belgium
| Airbus/Since 1998
| :nl:A.S.T.R.I.D. :fr:A.S.T.R.I.D.
| Police, fire, ambulance, customs, coast guard, hospitals, Red Cross, department of Justice, utility companies, airports, ports, lifeguard service, military.
| Nationwide network
|-
| Rohde & Schwarz since 2011/ ACCESSNET-T
| ENTROPIA DIGITAL
| Commercial & private security users.
| Flanders & Brussels
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="1"| Croatia
| Motorola / Dimetra
| MUPNet
| Police, fire brigades, ambulance service
| Nationwide coverage (99,5%) in use
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2"|Denmark
| DAMM TetraFlex
| DONG Energy Power Plants - 11 Power Plants across Denmark
| Utilities - safety, security, telemetry
| Awarded 2009
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
| SINE
| All emergency authorities, incl. police, fire, and ambulance.
| Nationwide coverage (99,5%) in use
|-
| Estonia
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| ESTER
| Police and border guard, fire, ambulance, and customs
| Nationwide network
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2"| Finland
| Nokia; now EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| VIRVE
| Police, fire, ambulance, customs, defence forces, and border guard
| Nationwide network
|-
|
| HelenNet
| Energy company Helsingin Energia, tram operator HKL-Raitioliikenne, and several bus operators on HRTA's lines. Also used by some security guard companies, mostly securing HRTA's transport. Available for lease for various short-term uses.
| In use, covers greater Helsinki region
|-
| rowspan="6" style="vertical-align: top;" |Germany
| style="vertical-align: top;" |HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|Stadtwerke Münster
|Utilities
|In use
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|Würzburg Tramway
|Public Transport
|In use
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|MIBRAG
|Oil & Gas
|In use
|-
| Airbus
| BOSNET
| Police, fire, ambulance, customs, and coast guard.
| Nationwide
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex
| Global Tech 1 Offshore Wind GmbH.
| Utility Windfarm - Telemetry, Security and Safety Critical communications
| Awarded 2012
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Hytera
|Bremen Tramway
|Transport
|In use since 2018
|-
| rowspan="3" style="vertical-align: top;" |Greece
|HMF Smart Solutions / Network Business Solutions
|Piraeus Container Terminal
|Ports
|In use
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
| COSMOTE TETRA Services <br /> Formerly branded OTElink (2009).
| Business critical, public protection & disaster relief (PPDR) communications, public utility and oil-gas companies, seaports, airports, public and private transportation companies, public and private sector security personnel, other. Data applications nationwide including SCADA, AVL, M2M.
| Extensive nationwide footprint, in use since 2002
|-
|SEPURA
|Teltronic
|Police, Fire Services, Coast Guard
|Nationwide roll-out in progress.
|-
| rowspan="2" | Hungary
| Pro-M Ltd.
| EDR (acronym for Unified Digital Radiosystem)
| Ambulance, army, Central Office for Administrative and Electronic Public Services, Civil Defence, Hungarian Prison Service, Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard, disaster management, fire, Hungarian Secret Services, Ministry of Environment and Water, and police
| In-use
|-
|HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|Budapesti Közlekedési Vállalat (BKV)
|Public Transport
|In use
|-
| Iceland
|Motorola / Dimetra
| TETRA Iceland
| Police, fire services, ambulances, Search and Rescue units, Red Cross, bus service (Strætó Bs.), The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, most utility companies, municipalities and private users such as excursion companies.
| In-use
|-
| Ireland
| Motorola / Dimetra
| TETRA Ireland
| An Garda Siochana, HSE National Ambulance Service, Irish Prison Service, Irish Naval Service, Customs & Excise, civil defense (only a few units), Irish Coast Guard, mountain rescue (only a few units), Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, Irish Red Cross, St John Ambulance, National Emergency Office, Port of Cork, Revenue Commissioners and Office of Public Works.
| Nationwide roll-out network complete. The fire services are planning to implement in the coming years. As of July 2011, TETRA Ireland now operates the national Paging System.
|-
| rowspan="6" style="vertical-align: top;" |Italy
| style="vertical-align: top;" |HMF Smart Solutions/ Mobilcom
|Priolo Servizi Consortium/Sicilia
|Oil & Gas
|In use
|-
| Leonardo
| MoI
| Completion of the National PSS network (PIT)
| Awarded in 2025
Currently in deployment
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Leonardo
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Milan-Cortina Foundation
|TETRA network for organisation and security services of Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics 2026
|Awarded in 2025
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |DAMM TetraFlex
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Lombardi Ambulance Emergency Services
|Ambulance - security, safety, communication
|Awarded 2010
|-
| SELEX ELSAG
| Rete Interpolizie
|Polizia di Stato (Italian state police), Carabinieri (military police), Guardia di Finanza (financial police), Polizia Penitenziaria (prison police), and Corpo Forestale Italiano (Italian forest brigades)
| Rolling out
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex
|Rome International Airport
| Airport - security, safety, commercial, fire, customs, police
| Awarded 2009
|-
| rowspan="3" | Latvia
| Artevea
| Ventamonjaks Serviss Ltd, Ventspils
| Oil and gas
| In use since 2007
|-
|Motorola / Dimetra (SIA DAN Communications)
|Riga Municipal Police
|Local law enforcement in Riga
|Ordered in 2016
|-
|Motorola / Dimetra (SIA DAN Communications)
|State Police
|National law enforcement
|
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="4"| Luxembourg
| Motorola / Dimetra
| Renita
| Government; police, fire brigade, ambulance services and others
| Start building 2014, Operational since 2015
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
| ConnectCom
| Commercial network
| Operational
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
| ConnectCom
| Police, fire, and ambulance
| Nationwide network
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
| ENTROPIA DIGITAL
| Commercial users.
| In use since 2000
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
| style="vertical-align: top;" |Chopin Airport, Warsaw
|Airports
|In use
|-
| Rohill (TetraNode)
| Szczecin, Warsaw and Kraków police
| Roll-out ongoing.
| Modern IP based TETRA solution for 3 cities
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="3"| Romania
| Motorola / Dimetra
| Special Telecommunications Service (STS)
| Police, fire, and search and rescue
| Nationwide
|-
| Motorola
| Dimetra
| Ministry of Administration and Interior (MAI) / Romanian Border Police (RBP)
| In use since 2008 for police, emergency and search and rescue agencies from Romanian border counties-wide
|-
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| TETRA EADS
| Ministry of Administration and Interior (MAI) / Romanian Border Police (RBP)
| In use since 2010 for police, emergency and search and rescue agencies from Romanian border counties-wide
|-
|
|Hytera/Motorola/Sepura
|HamTetra Network Romania
|Amateur radio users engage in both DMO (Direct Mode Operation) and TMO (Trunked Mode Operation) modes, both within the country and globally, connecting through gateways such as Zello and SVXLink.
Ham Tetra Romania Network Architecture was developed and published along with users map and equipment used on the YO8TEH website
|Tetra gear in ham radio was initially introduced by YO8TEH in 2014 in DMO (Direct Mode Operation). Subsequently, it evolved into gateways through platforms like Zello and Teamspeak. In 2021, a part of the system was split and migrated to svxlink, along with its classic application. The first Tetra Repeater for Ham Radio use in Romania was licensed under the call sign YO8TEH-1, while the second TMO repeater was licensed under the call sign YO8Q.
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="4"| Russia
| DAMM TetraFlex
| Moscow Metro (second most heavily used rapid transport system in the world)
| Transport - rail - telemetry, safety, security, police, ambulance, fire
| Awarded 2011
|-
| Sepura
| Unified system of operational trunking radio (Единая Система Оперативной Транкинговой Радиосвязи)
| Fire, ambulance and partially, police
| Launched in 2008
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex
| Russias Kaliningrad Power Plant.
| Utility power plant - safety and security - telemetry and commercial agents
| Awarded 2009
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex
| St Petersburg and North West Russia.
| Government - ambulance and emergency services, police, healthcare facilities, utility services, St. Petersburg Authorities and the regional civil defense
| Awarded 2011
|-
| Serbia
| Motorola / Dimetra
| Ministry of Interior
| Police, fire brigades, ambulance
| Fully rolled out as of 2009
|-
| Slovenia
| Selex/OTE/Marconi
| Ministry of Interior
| Police
| In central Slovenia
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="3"| Spain
| Motorola
| Basque Country
| Mainly police
| In use since 2006
|-
| Teltronic
| Basque Country
| Mainly municipalities and public services
| In use since 2009
|-
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| Catalonia
| Police, fire brigades, civil protection, ambulances, forest guards, water agency, gas company, road maintenance service and other public agencies
| In use since 2006
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="3"| Sweden
| SAAB, Cassidian, Eltel Networks
| RAKEL
| Managed by the Civil Contingencies Agency - MSB. For use by the emergency services and others in the fields of civil protection, public safety and security, emergency medical services and healthcare, road services, nuclear facilities.
| In operation, covering 99.8% of Sweden's population and 95% of its territory
|-
| Motorola
| Tetra
| Stockholm public transport: used by transport security officers for dispatch internal communications, Transport Police ("Tunnelbanepolisen") and other police forces for liaison with transport officials. Roll-out stage for train operations on underground.
| In operation / roll-out
|-
| Rohde & Schwarz
| Got1
| Got1 is a modern IP based Tetra network used in the west parts of Sweden. Mainly in the Gothenburg region. With customers like SKF and Volvo Trucks.
| In operation
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="4"| United Kingdom
| Motorola / Dimetra / Sepura
| Airwave
| Police, fire, NHS ambulance services, Border Force, immigration enforcement, some armed forces, National Highways traffic officers, civil contingency services, HM Coastguard, St John Ambulance, St John Cymru, British Red Cross, Highland Council, and miscellaneous emergency services.
| Full emergency service rollout complete
|-
| Hytera
| Tetra
| Prison Service
| Operational
|-
| Motorola / Dimetra
| Connect
| Transport for London (London Underground)
| Used by all Tube staff and relaying Airwave for BTP when underground
|-
|AirRadio AR-en
|
|Use by some services at some major airports
|(Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen)
|-
| rowspan="6" style="vertical-align:top;" | Middle East
| Israel
| Motorola
| Mountain Rose
| Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
| In use by IDF, country-wide
|-
| Turkey
| DAMM TetraFlex
| Alacer Gold Mine
| Mining - safety and security critical communications
| Awarded 2012
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2"| United Arab Emirates
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| Nedaa
| Police, emergency services, and professional communications
| Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Qaiwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Fujairah operational
|-
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
| Polikom
| Police, emergency services, and professional communications
| Abu Dhabi
|-
| rowspan="2" style="vertical-align: top;" |Qatar
|HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|Ooredoo, nationwide network
|Operator/Industry
|In use
|-
| EADS/Cassidian/Airbus
|
| Ministry of Interior, army, police, air force search and rescue, EMS (medical).
| Initial use for the 15th Asian Games all games venues inclusive of transportation routes for "blue light" services, later extended to cover the State of Qatar. Known as Qatar Secure TETRA Radio System (QSTRS).
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" |
|Saudi Arabia
|Leonardo
|Riyadh Metro
|Extension of existing TETRA network for Riyadh Metro
|Awarded in 2025
Currently in deployment
|-
| Latin America
| Mexico
| Rohde & Schwarz / Sepura
| Mazatlán, Sinaloa Police & Emergency Services
| Police, emergency services operational
|Operational
|-
| rowspan="6" |South America
|Argentina
|HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|Mendoza
|Public Safety
|In use
|-
| rowspan="3" | Brazil
| Motorola
| América Latina Logística
| Railroad, communication and licensing.
|Operational
|-
|Teltronic / Motorola
|Polícia Rodoviária Federal
|Road patrol, country-wide
|In operation / national roll-out in progress
|-
|Teltronic / Motorola
|12 states
|Public Safety Agencies
|In operation, 600+ stationary stations.
|-
|Chile
|HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|Gendarmeria de Chile
|Public Safety
|Awarded 2025
|-
|Peru
|HMF Smart Solutions / ACCESSNET®-T IP
|National Police and district units of Pucallpa
|Public Safety
|In use
|-
| rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;" | Caribbean
| style="vertical-align:top;"| Windward Islands and Leeward Islands
| Rohill
| Zenitel, C3 since 2005
| Police, emergency services, oil and professional communications
| Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Anguilla operational
|-
|Dominican Republic
|Hytera US / HMF Smart Solutions
|
|Public Safety
|In use
|-
| rowspan="17" style="vertical-align:top;" | Oceania
| rowspan="13" style="vertical-align:top;" | Australia
| DAMM TetraFlex
| BHP Billiton
| Temco Smeltering Tasmania - mining, commercial, safety, security
| Awarded 2011
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex
| Rio Tinto
| Western Australia Mining
| Awarded 2009
|-
|Rohill Tetra
|Inpex
|Ichthys LNG
|Infrastructure
|-
|Rohill Tetra
|BHP Billiton
|Macedon Gas
|Infrastructure
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex
| Origin Energy (APLNG)
| Kordia Solutions
| Australian Pacific Project
|-
|Rohill Tetra
|Goldlinq
|Goldcoast rail
|Goldcoast infrastructure
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex
| Fortescue Metals group
| Open cut mining
| Awarded 2011
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex
| Gorgon LNG Project, Chevron, Australia
| Gas and pipelines
| Awarded 2011
|-
|Motorola
|BHP Billiton
|Pyrenees FPSO
|Awarded 2016
|-
| Motorola
| Zeon
| Local government
| Operational across Brisbane City Council, including the Brisbane State Emergency Service Unit
|-
| DAMM TetraFlex
| Australian Submarine Co
| Military, defence, comms, safety, security
| Awarded 2012
|-
| Motorola
| Zeon
| Tertiary education
| Used by Queensland University of Technology security staff.
|-
| Sepura
|
|
| Being used by several Mining Operations throughout Western Australia and Queensland - Terminals only - No Infrastructure.
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="4" | New Zealand
| DAMM TetraFlex
| BHP One Steel
| Aluminium Smelter - ore production - safety, security, operations
| Awarded 2012
|-
| Kordia
| KorKor
| Airports
| Used by Wellington International Airport, Air New Zealand
|-
| Kordia
| KorKor
| Councils
| Used by Hutt City, Auckland Transport
|-
| Teltronic
| Widarcom
| Commercial network launched 2008
| Used by University of Auckland, Westpac
|}
Amateur radio usage
In the past decade, TETRA has seen an uptick in usage in the amateur radio community. The perceived higher audio quality compared to other digital voice modes, capacity for packet data, SDS, single frequency DMO repeaters, close proximity of the UHF (430-440MHz) amateur radio band and full duplex audio in TMO are motivating arguments to experiment contacts with this technology.
Multiple constraints have to be noted when using TETRA for amateur radio service:
- In most countries, encryption cannot be used.
- Most older (pre-2010) terminals don't cover the Region 1 amateur radio frequency range (430–440) natively, and must be modified via software with a possible impact on RF performance.
Multiple amateur DMO and TMO networks are established throughout Europe.
Additionally, an open-source project aims to create a complete SDR-based TETRA stack, with a working DMO repeater proof of concept.
See also
- Digital mobile radio, a TDMA digital radio standard from ETSI
- Digital private mobile radio (dPMR), an FDMA digital radio standard from ETSI
- NXDN, a two-way FDMA digital radio protocol from Icom and JVC Kenwood
- P25 (Project 25), a TIA APCO standard (USA)
- TETRAPOL (previously MATRA)
References
External links
- ETSI's website with free access to TETRA standards
- HamTetra Community Resources
- Report on the health effects of TETRA prepared for the Home Office
- TETRA in use by radio amateurs
- The Critical Communications Association
- Radiocommunication objectives and requirements for Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR)