Making Waves

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.

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/

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 [https://tcca.info/] Links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DammVideoChannel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/damm-cellular-systems

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 operations * How phased migration enables transformation without downtime * Decentralised architectures and the elimination of single points of failure * Bridging legacy and new systems to protect long-term investments * Energy efficiency and sustainability as strategic design criteria * Why the future of critical communications is hybrid by design This 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/@DammVideoChannelhttps://www.youtube.com/@DammVideoChannel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/damm-cellular-systems

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 networks * Global migration timelines and regional adoption trends * How open standards and interoperability unlock innovation * Balancing cost, resilience, and technological evolution Chapters: 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/company/damm-cellular-systems] Youtube: https://youtu.be/3nWcLcof7Rs