TETRA Security – An overview

During the last decade several standards for Mobile telecommunications have been developed. The best known is without any doubt the Global Standard for Mobile Communications (GSM) which is operational in many countries, both within and outside Europe. It is now the most successful standard for mobile communications. Also the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) was successfully implemented in different environments for cordless telephony (Home, PABX). A standard that has just left the standardisation phase and is now entering the implementation phase is the Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) standard. It is typically designed for the Professional Mobile Radio market and includes Private Mobile Radio (PMR) systems, typically for Military and Public Safety organisations, as well as Public Access Mobile Radio Systems for public services. Finally, in 1999, the 3 Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP) started the drafting of the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS).