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End-to-End Mission Critical 

Push-to-Talk: Pushing for 

the future

2019 PSCR Public Safety

Broadband Stakeholder

Meeting | NIST

July 9th, 2019 Chicago, IL

Nemergent Solutions SL

Sonim Technologies, Inc.
2 Confidential / 2

DISCLAIMER

This presentation was produced by guest speaker(s) 

and presented at the National Institute of Standards 

and Technology’s 2019 Public Safety Broadband 

Stakeholder Meeting. The contents of this 

presentation do not necessarily reflect the views or 

policies of the National Institute of Standards and 

Technology or the U.S. Government.

Posted with permission
Confidential / 3

Agenda.

• Project objectives (Bob)

• Client UE/application. (Bob)

• MCPTT server-side. (Oscar)

• Functional & performance testing. (Oscar)

• Test deployments. (Oscar)

• Dissemination. (Oscar)

• Project summary. (Bob)

• Demonstration. (Bob)

• Q & A (All)
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Public Safety

Innovation Acceleration

Program (PSIAP)

• Project objectives

• Client UE/application.

• MCPTT server-side.

• Functional & performance testing.

• Test deployments.

• Dissemination.

• Project summary.

• Demonstration.

• Q & A 

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6

Project

Objectives • Middleware for MCPTT Client 

Integration on Android UE – LTE-level support – Application-level support – Mission Critical Experience / UI

• MCPTT Service Implementation (next slide) • Testing – Protocol testing – Interoperability testing – System integration tests / KPI – Field tests

Statement of Work

Sonim Technologies, Inc.

PSIAP - Project: End-to-End Mission Critical Push-to-Talk: beginning June 1 2017

NIST # 70NANB17H179

G = June 1st

Table 1: Project Deliverables and Timeline Revised

Section Deliverable Owner Date

Section 3.1.1Service Integration

PTT App Integration on UE Sonim/Nemergent G+ 2W

ISIM API/APN for data connection Sonim/Nemergent G+ 14W

MCPTT Integration - Service Level Nemergent G+ 40W

QCI integration / Broadcast Services Sonim/Nemergent G+ 40W

E2E Broadcast Services SDK Sonim G+ 52W

Service Level Integration SDK Pkg Sonim G+ 52W

Section 3.1.2Mission Critical Experience

PTT Key integration / SDK Sonim G+ 2W

PTT Android framework modifications Sonim G+ 14W

PTT SDK / guide Sonim G+ 40W

PTT Audio path demo Sonim G+ 52W

CSM - Generic API Sonim G+ 14W

CSM Accessory Prototype for UE Sonim G+ 30W

MCPTT integration with CSM Sonim G+ 40W

CSM SDK Pkg Sonim G+ 40W

Section 3.2 MCPTT Server Components

First Release of MCPTT System Nemergent G+ 2W

Second Release of MCPTT Management Servers Nemergent G+ 30W

Second release of MCPTT AS Nemergent G+ 40W

Section 3.3 Testing

Integration Testing (Definition) Nemergent/Sonim G+ 14W

Interoperability Testing Nemergent G+ 52-70W

Field Testing Sonim / Partner G+ 52-80W

Test Reports Sonim Per milestones 
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Technical objectives

MCPTT UE

MCPTT

AS

MCPTT

Dispatcher

Key

Management

Server

Configuration

Management 

Server

Group

Management

Server

Identity

Management

Server

MB2

Rx

MCPTT 

Enabler

MCPTT

OAM

Third party 

LTE-A Pro / LTE

Integration Evolve ongoing 

developments

Own development

Evolve R2016 to R2017

To be 

developed

Scope of the 

collaboration

Not initially 

considered
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Project

Objectives

Revisited

• Server side

– Full 3GPP R13 compliant servers with 

QoS and eMBMS support

– Ongoing evolution to R14

• Client side

– Hardware button integration for PTT,

Yellow and Red keys

– Channel Selection Module SDK and 

Integration on MCPTT client

– DSP Audio calibration for MCPTT,

resulting in enhanced audio clarity

and noise cancellation

– QCI Integration

– eMBMS integration using

Qualcomm middleware

• KPI measurements 

First Year Progress – Highlights –

Platform Integrations

Sonim Technologies, Inc.

PSIAP - Project: End-to-End Mission Critical Push-to-Talk: beginning June 1 2017

NIST # 70NANB17H179

G = June 1st

Table 1: Project Deliverables and Timeline Revised

Section Deliverable Owner Date

Section 3.1.1 Service Integration

PTT App Integration on UE Sonim/Nemergent G+ 2W

ISIM API/APN for data connection Sonim/Nemergent G+ 14W

MCPTT Integration - Service Level Nemergent G+ 40W

QCI integration / Broadcast Services Sonim/Nemergent G+ 40W

E2E Broadcast Services SDK Sonim G+ 52W

Service Level Integration SDK Pkg Sonim G+ 52W

Section 3.1.2 Mission Critical Experience

PTT Key integration / SDK Sonim G+ 2W

PTT Android framework modifications Sonim G+ 14W

PTT SDK / guide Sonim G+ 40W

PTT Audio path demo Sonim G+ 52W

CSM - Generic API Sonim G+ 14W

CSM Accessory Prototype for UE Sonim G+ 30W

MCPTT integration with CSM Sonim G+ 40W

CSM SDK Pkg Sonim G+ 40W

Section 3.2 MCPTT Server Components

First Release of MCPTT System Nemergent G+ 2W

Second Release of MCPTT Management Servers Nemergent G+ 30W

Second release of MCPTT AS Nemergent G+ 40W

Section 3.3 Testing

Integration Testing (Definition) Nemergent/Sonim G+ 14W

Interoperability Testing Nemergent G+ 52-70W

Field Testing Sonim / Partner G+ 52-80W

Test Reports Sonim Per milestones 

Legend

TBD

Completed

In Progress
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Objectives for

2018-2019

Better

KPI

Better UI

and UX

Presence

and Location 

Integration

Contacts

and Group 

Management

Rigorous 

Testing for 

Mission Critical 

Readiness
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Public Safety

Innovation Acceleration

Program (PSIAP)

• Project objectives.

• Client UE/application.

• MCPTT server-side.

• Functional & performance testing.

• Test deployments.

• Dissemination.

• Project summary.

• Demonstration.

• Q & A 

Confidential / 10
Confidential / 11 PSIAP work – First year highlights
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Support of 

MCOP interfaces

MUOAPI integration (northbound)

IAPI integration (southbound)
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Evolution of Rel13 

call types and features

Full-duplex calls

Broadcast (w and w/o emergency)

Ambient (local and remote)

Improved Idms, CMS and GMS
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Evolution of centralized

contact and group

management

User-profiles for each MCPTT ID
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Location and 

first-step presence

Location

Group members

Subscription to group

members’ affilition status
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Evolution to support

different MCS 

client providers

SDK selection

Plugins selection
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Addition of some

Rel14 features

Private MCVideo calls

Private and Group SDS

SDS notifications
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Interoperability (Plugtest events + dif.providers and vendors)

2nd ETSI MCPTT

Plugtest

(June 2018)

STANDARDS

3rd ETSI MCX

Plugtest

(December 2018)

STANDARDS

In Process...

4th ETSI MCX 

Plugtest (Sept. 2019)
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Public Safety

Innovation Acceleration

Program (PSIAP)

• Project objectives

• Client UE/application.

• MCPTT server-side.

• Functional & performance testing.

• Test deployments.

• Dissemination.

• Project summary.

• Demonstration.

• Q & A 

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Located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.

Founded in January 2017.

Next generation Mission Critical 

communications 

• 3GPP R13 MCPTT

• 3GPP R14 MCVideo & MCData
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Technical evolution

MCPTT UE

MCPTT

AS

MCPTT

Dispatcher

Key

Management

Server

Configuration

Management 

Server

Group

Management

Server

Identity

Management

Server

MB2

Rx

MCPTT 

Enabler

Rel13 features: Late call entry, ambient, 

broadcast, emergency alert, ...

MCPTT

OAM

Year 2 - MCPTT/MCS System in short

Rel14 features: SDS, FD with HTTP, 

MCVideo TC,...

Enhanced R13 and R14 OAM front-end 

and back-end

Security (ciphering for MCPTT, MCData, 

eMBMBS, ...)

Hard upgrade of management servers to 

update them to R15 and beyond 

MCPTT enabler with enhanced capabilities 

(location, enhanced OAM procedures, 

group membership and affiliation,...)
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Public Safety

Innovation Acceleration

Program (PSIAP)

• Project objectives

• Client UE/application.

• MCPTT server-side.

• Functional & performance testing.

• Test deployments.

• Dissemination.

• Project summary.

• Demonstration.

• Q & A 

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Interoperability (Plugtest events + dif.providers and vendors)

1st ETSI MCPTT

Plugtest

(June 2017)

STANDARDS

2nd ETSI MCPTT

Plugtest

(June 2018)

STANDARDS

3rd ETSI MCX

Plugtest

(December 2018)

STANDARDS

In Process...

4th ETSI MCX 

Plugtest (Sept. 2019)
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Evolution to log 

KPIs in client

KPI1

KPI2

KPI3 + Audio path log
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KPI measurements

On-site measurements

Lab measurement
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Target KPIs 

MCPTT KPIs Threshold Likelihood LTE Packet Delay 

Budget

MCPTT KPI 1 – Access Time < 300 ms 95% of all MCPTT 

requests 

< 60 ms 

MCPTT KPI 1 – Access Time (Emergency) < 300 ms 99% of all MCPTT 

requests 

< 60 ms 

MCPTT KPI 2 – End-to-End Access Time < 1000 ms N/A < 60 ms 

MCPTT KPI 3 – Mouth-to-Ear Latency < 300 ms 95% of all voice bursts < 75 ms 

MCPTT KPI 4 – Late Call Entry Time (encrypted 

calls) < 350 ms 95% of all Late Call entries 

< 60 ms 

MCPTT PESQ MOS-LQO ≥ 3.0 N/A N/A 

MCPTT POLQA MOS-LQO ≥ 3.0 N/A N/A 
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KPI1

Year 1 results: 110-250ms

Year 2 results: 110-250ms

Standard limitation: 300ms
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KPI2

Year 1 results: 660ms

Year 2 results: >500ms

Standard limitation: 1000ms
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KPI3

Year 1 results: 450ms

Year 2 results: 260-310ms

Standard limitation: 300ms
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POLQA

Year 1 results: Unregistered

Year 2 results: 4.26

Standard limitation: >3
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Public Safety

Innovation Acceleration

Program (PSIAP)

• Project objectives

• Client UE/application.

• MCPTT server-side.

• Functional & performance testing.

• Test deployments.

• Dissemination.

• Project summary.

• Demonstration.

• Q & A 

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Testing platforms

- Online platform for Atlantic City Police Department

- Online platform for Fairfax

- Online platform for Sonim

- Online platform for MCOP

- Integration with Enensys/Expway EPC

- Integration with Polaris EPC and One2many multicast module (NIST/PSCR 

Boulder Labs, CO)

- All-in-one LTE+MCPTT deployable platform (NIST/PSCR Boulder Labs, CO)

- Installation and integration of MCPTT enabler in Boulder premises as prestandardized inter-working function (IWF) with P25 legacy network.
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Atlantic City 

Police Department

(ACPD)

Tests started the 23rd of May

First-hand feedback received

Questionnaire circulated

Plan to have a post-mortem 

meeting with proposed changes

in the MCS client
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First-responder experience with MCS system

1.- How easy is the MCS client to use? 4

(considering 1: Very hard, 2: Hard, 3: Neutral, 4: Easy and 5: Very easy)

Could you elaborate? 

After minimal training we found all users were able to operate the MCS client with relative 

ease. 

2.- In your previous experience with public safety communications, what do you miss most? Is 

the interoperability with other agencies a desirable feature?

Compared to a standard radio I miss the knobs on the top of the radio making turning the 

device on/off, volume control and switching channels easy and effortless. The speaker mic 

was not useful on the MCS as you did not know who you were calling/answering without 

looking at the display.

Interoperability with other agencies is an extremely desirable feature. 

3.- Which feature of the MCS client is the most important in your daily life? Why?

Coverage area is extremely important. Need the MCS to work when needed inside of 

buildings and throughout the city. This is important for officer safety. The MCS did not 

function when the bandwidth was congested during the Beach Concerts; whereas the phone 

and text messaging worked without issue on the FirstNet system.

4.- Which feature of the MCS client is the least important in your daily life? Why?

1)The MCS did not allow attachments (photo) and you had to leave the application to share a 

photo (although the video worked well).

2) The main problem with the MCS client was the creation of an ‘Open Mic’. A sincle touch of 

the user to be called created an open mic (transmitting without keying the PTT) and the user 

could be unaware. This was very problematic and should be ELIMINATED. 

5.- Is there any feature that you would strongly recommend us to add? Why?

1) Addition of an ALERT feature to signal the recipient of the call. Very useful in a high noise 

environment and to show an attempted call was missed.

2) Ability to share attachment in the application (photo) without exiting.

3) Ability to use the application with others not on a Sonim platform (restricts available users).

4) Administration portal to clone or set up all users remotely, and not have to program each device 

individually. Items like changing alias names, talk groups, settings etc.

Attachment to the phone with knobs similar to a traditional radio.

6.- In the experience with the MCS client, please, describe a situation where the product was useful.

The product was useful during the beach concerts in Atlantic City. Our SWAT team utilized the 

sonim phones with MCS client to communicate amongst each other. The Firstnet netwok worked 

flawlessly while the traditional cellular networks were experiencing congestion issues making phone 

calls difficult. We had no issues on the FirstNet network. 

7.- Do you foresee the future utilization of the MCS client? Do you want to be involved in the 

evolution of the MCS client?

Yes, if it is improved. and Yes. 

8.- Could you describe a real issue in the field that could be solved with enhanced communications 

but yet, you have not found the appropriate product/solution?

With our current traditional radio network we are unable to communicate with other agencies if their 

radio channels were no preprogramed into our radio or a patch is not initiated. Need a more robust 

with the ability to add in users without any advanced notice. 

9.- Would you recommend the MCS client to other first-responders?

Yes, if improved.

10.- Rate the overall experience. 

(considering 1: Very bad, 2: Bad, 3: Neutral, 4: Good and 5: Very good) 4

Could you elaborate?

Was a good experience, with further enhancements this product could be very useful to law 

enforcement. Some features of the ATT Client application should be examined.
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Public Safety

Innovation Acceleration

Program (PSIAP)

• Project objectives

• Client UE/application.

• MCPTT server-side.

• Functional & performance testing.

• Test deployments.

• Dissemination.

• Project summary.

• Demonstration.

• Q & A 

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Berlin, Germany

18-21 September 2018

EVENTS

Frequentis dispatch system

LTE-in-a-box

Nemergent MCPTT

SONIM XP8

PSIAP work - Dissemination
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Barcelona, Spain

25-28 February 2019

EVENTS

First event with adapted MCPTT/MCS client 

to MCOP interfaces

LTE-in-a-box (with eMBMB support)

Nemergent MCS

SONIM XP8

PSIAP work - Dissemination
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Las Vegas, NV

6-7 March 2019

EVENTS

Focused on showing Rel14 MCVideo and MCData

LTE-in-a-box (with eMBMBS support)

Nemergent MCS

SONIM XP8

PSIAP work - Dissemination
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Coventry, UK

12-13 March 2019

EVENTS

Multi-technology and crossdevice MCPTT system

Nemergent MCS

SONIM XP5, XP8, Bittium, 

Telo, P25 devices, ...

PSIAP work - Dissemination
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Malaga, Spain

6-7 May 2019

EVENTS

Influence in European projects

Focused on providing 

technology for first-responders

Nemergent MCS

SONIM XP8

PSIAP work - Dissemination
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

18-20 June 2019

EVENTS

Enhanced MCS OAM interface

LTE-in-a-box (eMBMS support)

Nemergent MCS

SONIM XP8

PSIAP work - Dissemination
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Public Safety

Innovation Acceleration

Program (PSIAP)

• Project objectives

• Client UE/application.

• MCPTT server-side

• Functional & performance testing.

• Test deployments.

• Dissemination.

• Project summary.

• Demonstration.

• Q & A 

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Confidential / 43 Project

Objectives

Revisited

Legend

TBD

Completed

In Progress

Second Year Progress – Highlights –

Platform Integrations

Deliverable Percentage Complete % Planned Completion Date

100 4-Aug-17

100 14-Sep-17

100 Jun 18 2018

100 Apr 20 2018

100 Jun 18 2018

100 Jun 18 2018

100 Dec 18 2017

100 Apr 20 2018

100 March 31 2019

100 Jan 31 2019

100 March 28 2018

100 Jan 05 2018

100 Apr 23 2018

100 Feb 03 2018

100 March 31 2019

100 Apr 20 2019

100 Mar 31 2019

100 September 29 2018

100 December 31 2018 (tentative- 3GPP specs still in 

progress)

100 Feb 27 2019

100 December 31 2018

100 June 30, 2019 (expected / 2019

MCPTT Plugtest)

90 April 30, 2019 – August – 2019

Test Reports 90 Monday, September 2, 2019

Interoperability Testing

Service Integration

PTT App Integration on UE

APN for data connection

Second release of MCPTT AS

Testing

Integration Testing (Definition)

Field Testing

Presence

Professionally designed UX/UI

MCPTT Server Components

First Release of MCPTT System

Second Release of MCPTT Management Servers

PTT Audio path demo / guide

CSM - Generic API

CSM Accessory Prototype for UE

MCPTT integration with CSM

CSM SDK Pkg

KPI Improvements

MCPTT Integration - Service Level

QCI integration

E2E Broadcast Services SDK

Service Level Integration SDK Pkg

Mission Critical Experience

PTT Key integration / SDK

PTT Android framework modifications

PTT SDK / guide • Service Integration

– Completed 100% of planned deliverables

• Mission Critical Experience

– Completed 100% of planned deliverables

• MCPTT Server Components

– Completed 100% of planned deliverables

• Testing

– Completed 100% of:

• Integration Testing Definition

• Interoperability Testing (through 3rd ETSI 

Plugtest)

• 90% of planned field testing

• 90% of planned test reports

* Plan is to complete all field testing and test reports by 9/2/2019
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Public Safety

Innovation Acceleration

Program (PSIAP)

• Project objectives

• Client UE/application.

• MCPTT server-side.

• Functional & performance testing.

• Test deployments.

• Dissemination.

• Project summary.

• Demonstration.

• Q & A 

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Small scale / 

Portable demo

Portable MCPTT + IMS system

SW-based SDR LTE system

MCPTT compliant UEs

3GPP QoS support - QCI 65 and 69

3GPP eMBMS support

MCPTT GUIs (client, OAM, dispatch)

Protocol traces
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Public Safety

Innovation Acceleration

Program (PSIAP)

• Project objectives

• Client UE/application.

• MCPTT server-side

• Functional & performance testing.

• Test deployments.

• Dissemination.

• Project summary.

• Demonstration.

• Q & A 

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joseoscar.fajardo@nemergent-solutions.com

www.nemergent-solutions.com

Jose Oscar Fajardo

CEO

Robert Escalle

Vice President

r.escalle@sonimtech.com

www.sonimtech.com
Confidential / 48

Thank you.