Two-way communication is critical when moving West of Mosul to the high security threat area near the Iraqi/Syrian border as terrorist attacks, kidnappings, bomb explosions, riots, and shootings are regular occurrences. The iPPT system was the only means of wireless communication used during the journey.
James Adams, security consultant and risk manager with a security company in the region, said that there were two main reasons why a PMR system could not provide the coverage required by this mission: "Firstly, the distance is more than 140 miles across mountains and deserts. Providing PMR communication would require more than 20 repeaters with power sources. Secondly, PMR repeaters would get sabotaged or stolen making PMR communication unreliable. We need reliability of clear communication when we’re in high risk areas.
“iPTT provided some iPTT Samcom CP-300 handsets and an iPTT dispatcher for testing and Sunday’s trials went very well. Satellite communication is available, but the costs are very high – iPTT’s Push To Talk over Cellular [system] provides excellent coverage throughout the areas we work in, at a fraction of the cost.”
“We were very impressed with the simple operation of the iPTT Samcom CP-300 devices and the iPTT dispatcher worked excellently, allowing the control room to monitor our progress in real-time. Communication was crystal clear and the security teams found the system very easy to use. This was a very successful field trial in real environments – it was important for us to test the system throughout.”
Hans Becker, director of international Push to Talk Ltd (iPTT), added: “It is not every day you can sit in the comfort of your living room and monitor a mission like the one today in the area between Erbil and Sinjar. iPTT’s PoC solution was tested in areas we don’t normally get to test and the results speak for themselves, proving [its] capabilities in the UK and abroad. This is testament to [the solution’s] capabilities: reliability, robustness, clear communication and tracking anywhere in the world where an internet connection is available, using mobile network providers or the internet. It was an exciting day watching the mission as it unfolded and I look forward to working with the security company going forward and I am very happy the mission went well and the team returned safely to Erbil.”