FAQs - Who uses TETRA and why?

1 What is TETRA used for?

2 Which countries use TETRA?

3 How many UK users are there?

4 What are the features of TETRA that make it more useful to professional users than mobile phones?

1 What is TETRA used for?

TETRA systems are designed to offer communications on the move for demanding professional users for whom communications is critical to their roles or businesses.

For example TETRA technology is used to provide greatly improved communications to the emergency services and other public safety organisations, public utilities, transport organisations and other users of mobile communications such as the oil and gas industry and distribution companies.

2 Which countries use TETRA?

The TETRA standard is well-established in a number of countries round the world, and has been deployed since 1997. There are more than 1420 TETRA contracts in existence in 103 countries. The USA and Canada have their own digital systems similar to TETRA. More information can be found on our TETRA "Around the World Page", click here.

3 How many UK users are there?

There are currently (Summer 2008) around 200,000 users of TETRA-based systems in the UK.

4 What are the features of TETRA that make it more useful to professional users than mobile phones?

TETRA offers secure, reliable and versatile communications with digital call quality. The features available include transmission of voice, data and pictures, encryption, managed fallback to provide resilience and the ability to use direct mode operation to set up local communications groups, for example at the scene of a major incident.