Airbus showcased its brand new TB4 base station, the very latest innovation in the evolution of Tetra towards 4G/5G technology, at the PMRExpo exhibition in Cologne.

The TB4 is the first hybrid base station that supports both Tetra and  4G/5G technology on the same hardware platform. Made on a smaller scale and fully adaptable, the new Tetra base station carries all the same powerful features as the popular Tetra TB3 base station, and more. These features include dual homing, air-interface encryption, and base station fallback.

The smaller-scale base station is fully compatible with its previous version. It sets a clear path from Tetra towards 4G/5G use since the high-tech system module supports both Tetra and LTE access. In addition to features such as an Air-Interface Encryption, a type 1 handover, and base station fallback, it provides advanced security capabilities.

The TB4 also provides the very latest technology from cellular network solutions, such as the integration of multicarrier remote radios. The TB4 plays a key role in Airbus’ ecosystem approach; it is based on Nokia’s AirScale base station platform and will enable its customers to benefit from a long Tetra lifecycle and a smooth evolution toward wireless broadband.

Customers will immediately notice the benefits of this new solution. Their power consumption will decrease, and their flexibility will increase thanks to the extensive network coverage and use of mainstream technology standardised by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), adapted for Tetra. They will also be able to benefit from the higher integration and longer operational life for networks operating in 2030 and beyond.

Moreover, customers who are currently using the TB3 can conserve the same antenna configurations for use with the TB4 which will enable a smooth transition towards 4G/5G networks, with significant cost savings in network planning and implementation.

The modern base station will initially be made available for a 380 MHz frequency and will be implemented according to the Airbus hybrid strategy, thus ensuring customers a smooth technological evolution.