May 11, 2026 – RugGear, a leading provider of rugged mobile devices for mission-critical communications, announced that its large-scale collaboration with specialized by stc, “specialized by stc & RugGear – Nationwide 3GPP MCX Migration for Future-proof Critical Communications”, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the International Critical Communications Awards (ICCAs) 2026 in the category of Best Use of Critical Communications in Public Safety.

Organized by The Critical Communications Association, the ICCAs are among the most prestigious global recognitions in the critical communications industry, honoring innovation, technological advancement, and real-world deployment excellence.

The winners will be announced on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, in London, United Kingdom, during Critical Communications World 2026.

Driving Nationwide MCX Transformation in Saudi Arabia

The finalist project highlights the successful deployment of 12,000 RugGear RG750 MCX mission-critical smart radios by specialized by stc across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This large-scale implementation supports a nationwide transition from legacy TETRA narrowband systems to 3GPP standards-based MCX broadband communications, enabling government agencies to modernize their mission-critical communication infrastructure.

The solution has been adopted by key public-sector organizations, including the Ministry of Interior, supporting operations across public safety, security, and national services.

A Scalable, Future-Ready MCX Solution

At the core of the deployment is the RugGear RG750, a purpose-built MCX-ready rugged smart radio designed for frontline mission-critical use. Fully integrated with specialized by stc’s carrier-grade LTE network and managed services platform, the solution enables:

• Mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) with instant and secure communication

• Mission-critical data and video (MCData, MCVideo) for enhanced operational awareness

• Nationwide coverage leveraging existing broadband infrastructure

• Converged voice and data services on a single device platform

By eliminating the need for dedicated TETRA infrastructure, the solution significantly reduces capital and operational costs while improving scalability and flexibility.

Accelerating the Adoption of 3GPP MCX Standards

This project represents a major milestone in the global transition toward standards-based mission-critical broadband communications.

By delivering MCX services over a nationwide mobile network, specialized by stc demonstrates that:

• Commercial LTE networks can meet mission-critical reliability requirements

• 3GPP MCX technologies can scale to nationwide deployments

• Governments can achieve sustainable infrastructure transformation

• Public safety agencies can transition frFom voice-only to data-rich operations

The deployment stands out for its scale, full migration strategy, and real-world government adoption, providing a clear roadmap for other countries pursuing similar transformations.

“Being recognized as an ICCAs finalist reflects the strong collaboration between RugGear and specialized by stc in advancing next-generation mission-critical communications,” said Maverick Chen, President of RugGear.“This project demonstrates how 3GPP-based MCX technologies can be deployed at national scale, delivering reliable, efficient, and future-ready communication capabilities for public safety and government users.”

With winners to be announced in June 2026, RugGear and specialized by stc reaffirm their commitment to advancing standards-based MCX communications, supporting the digital transformation of mission-critical operations worldwide.