We're going behind the scenes of some of the world's biggest sporting events, where a dropped call isn't just annoying, it could be dangerous.

In this episode, we talk with John Mantas, Team Lead Account Manager for Motorsports and Global Events at Riedel. With experience from major Summer and Winter Games as well as football World Cups, John and his colleagues design and deliver communication systems that simply cannot fail under extreme pressure, where precision and reliability are everything.

The pressure of performance: Delivering full availability for half a billion viewers
What does it truly take to deploy a mission-critical communication network for a global event with up to half a billion viewers? We dive into the massive logistical and technical challenge of temporary, high-stakes deployments. John reveals the intense, two-year planning cycles, the ever-changing international regulations, and the constant battle against signal interference and last-minute changes.

From managing frequency-dense environments and securing temporary networks to ensuring complete redundancy in everything from power to antennas, we unpack the leadership and engineering required to keep thousands of staff - from race control to medical teams, safely connected.

Listen in to discover:

• The four pillars of planning, including international regulations and worst-case scenario calculations.
• Why redundancy is the key factor when "failure is not an option."
• How teams mitigate threats ranging from cyberattacks to RF interference in crowded venues.
• The unique challenges of balancing client cost pressures with non-negotiable safety requirements.
• Real-world lessons and advice for designing your first event-based critical comms deployment.

This isn't just a technical deep dive. It’s a front-row look at the high-stakes world where flawless communication ensures both a great show and the safety of everyone involved.

John’s privileged insider perspective on delivering full availability makes for compelling listening.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction
02:31 The scope & pressure of global events
08:52 Reliability & environmental challenges
13:40 Security, compliance & interoperability
17:27 Cost, innovation & client expectations
21:51 Lessons, stories & advice
26:08 Wrap-Up

John Mantas is the Team Lead Account Manager for Motorsports and Global Events at Riedel. He specialises in designing and implementing professional communications solutions for large-scale, high-visibility events, focusing on absolute reliability and resilience under pressure.

The landscape of mission-critical communication is shifting faster than ever. In this episode, we gain a rare, data-driven perspective with two of the industry’s top analysts from Omdia: Ildefonso De La Cruz Morales (Senior Principal Analyst - Industrial & Government Critical Communication) and Paul Bremner (Principal Analyst, Integrated Tech).

This episode is a big-picture look at where the critical communications industry is heading - from PMR/LMR to broadband, from fragmented systems to integrated platforms, and from hardware sales to service models.

A massive transformation is underway, driven by digitalisation and billions in investment. We tackle the macro trends, the tough questions about PMR vs. hybrid systems, the urgency of cybersecurity and the provocative role of artificial intelligence in first responder operations. Paul and Alfonso share insights from their worldwide research, providing actionable intelligence on where to invest, what to prioritise, and how to avoid being left behind.

With two of the industry’s top analysts from Omdia, we’ll unpack global shifts, investment trends, technology adoption, and real-world market friction in PMR and broadband communications.

Listen in to discover:

• Emerging tech and vendor trends: The shift to platform-based control rooms and the dual threat/promise of artificial intelligence (including deepfakes). 

• Global investment patterns and regional differences: Analysis of the billions of dollars shaping the ecosystem and navigating key adoption barriers.

• Pain points in system deployment, integration, and resilience: Addressing security with a secure-by-design approach that protects the supply chain and planning for the "1% of cases" that demand emergency communications.

• The role of government, policy, and standards in shaping outcomes: Practical advice for buyers on prioritising standards and flexibility to ensure long-term network growth.

This isn’t just a technical deep dive. It’s a front-row look at the data, policies, and decisions that are defining the next decade of critical communications.

The privileged insider perspective from Omdia’s leading experts makes compelling listening.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction 
03:55 The big picture 
11:20 Reliability market realities and friction points 
22:15 Investment, innovation & cost of ownership 
30:31 Security, regulation & resilience 
36:13 Looking ahead 
44:20 Wrap-up  
About the guests:
Ildefonso De La Cruz Morales is a Senior Principal Analyst in Omdia’s Critical Communications practice. He specializes in the broadband ecosystem, focusing on next-generation networks, 5G, and the global adoption of mission-critical communication technologies across public safety and enterprise verticals.

Paul Bremner is a Principal Analyst in the critical communications group at Omdia, serving as the lead analyst for the Command and Control Rooms Intelligence Service. Paul holds a bachelor's degree in physics and has over a decade of experience analyzing security systems, safe cities, and the evolving public safety technology landscape.

Crit Comms Circle podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/omdia-crit-comms-circle/id1598907968 https://open.spotify.com/show/2QeVNTXwfQhtORnxj2lEzJ

When communications can’t fail, performance is everything. In this episode, we sit down with Peter Hudson, Chief Technology Officer of Sepura, to explore what it really takes to design, build, and support mission-critical devices that keep people connected when it matters most.

From the enduring value of TETRA technology to the new frontiers of hybrid systems, sustainability, and user-driven innovation, Peter brings a manufacturer’s perspective to the realities of critical communications where reliability, resilience, and innovation meet.

We dive into the engineering and operational challenges behind the world’s toughest radios, the trade-offs between cost and performance, and how manufacturers like Sepura are responding to evolving user expectations, environmental pressures, and shifting market dynamics.

Whether you’re in the public or private sector, part of the engineering community, or leading technology strategy, this episode offers an insider look at the people, products, and philosophies shaping the next generation of mission-critical devices.

Listen in to discover:

• What today’s users expect from mission-critical radios
• How to balance performance, cost, and environmental standards
• The real future of TETRA and hybrid systems
• Approaches to interoperability and total cost of ownership
• Innovation in ruggedised technology and sustainable product design

This isn’t just a technical deep dive, it’s a conversation about purpose-built performance, user trust, and the evolving ecosystem that keeps mission-critical communications strong both today and into the future.

Peter's privileged insider perspective makes compelling listening. We hope you will enjoy the episode.

Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
03:00 The role of the manufacturer
09:57 Reliability, cost, and innovation
17:01 Environmental and operational challenges
23:35 TETRA’s future and ecosystem thinking
37:02 Leadership and outlook
40:37 Wrap-up  

Peter Hudson is the Chief Technology Officer at Sepura, a global leader in TETRA communications solutions. With extensive experience in operations, engineering, and product strategy, Peter oversees the delivery of rugged, secure, and high-performance radios used by public safety, transport, and industrial organisations worldwide. His perspective bridges technology and operations ensuring that Sepura’s products meet the uncompromising demands of users on the front line.

Keeping a multi-billion-euro offshore wind operation connected is no small task. In this episode, we speak with Michael Mikkelsen, Head of SCADA and Communication Systems at Ørsted, about the critical role of mission-critical communications in powering the world’s largest offshore wind producer.

What does it take to maintain safe, reliable and efficient energy production when your infrastructure is remote, exposed to extreme conditions, and expected to operate for decades? 

We dive into Ørsted’s communications strategy to uncover how TETRA and LTE keep turbines, substations and control rooms seamlessly linked, while balancing cost, resilience and environmental goals.

From harsh offshore environments and hybrid network design to long-term cost management and sustainability, Michael shares the insights and lessons behind Ørsted’s approach to building a future-proof critical communications network.

Listen in to discover:

• Comms in complex, safety-critical environments
• Offshore radio infrastructure and hybrid network architecture
• Resilience, system uptime, and risk mitigation
• Managing costs in long-term industrial deployments
• Sustainability and the future of green communications

This isn’t just a technical deep dive. It’s a rare look inside one of the world’s most advanced renewable energy operations - and the invisible systems that keep it running.

Michael's privileged insider perspective makes compelling listening. We hope you will enjoy the episode.  

Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
03:25 Comms in energy operations
08:34  Resilience in harsh environments
18:01 Cost, efficiency & total ownership
23:29  Sustainability and comms strategy
30:47 Lessons, leadership & future direction
38:15 Wrap-up 

Michael Mikkelsen is Head of SCADA and Communication Systems at Ørsted, the world’s largest offshore wind producer. With more than a decade of experience at Ørsted—and several years before that as a contractor delivering early-stage communication systems for the company’s first large offshore wind farms—Michael has been at the forefront of building and scaling mission-critical radio networks for renewable energy operations. Starting as a radio engineer in 2015 and becoming Head of Radio Communications in 2018, he has led the development of robust TETRA and LTE solutions to support Ørsted’s rapidly expanding global infrastructure. Today, he oversees the broader integration of SCADA and communications, ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operations across some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Keeping the UK’s emergency services connected is a complex and critical task. In this episode, we speak with Duncan Swan, COO of British APCO, about the challenges, priorities, and leadership driving public safety communications today - and into the future.

What does it take to keep the UK’s emergency services connected when lives are on the line? We dive into the critical communications landscape of UK public safety with British APCO. Duncan shares how BAPCO drives collaboration and policy clarity while tackling the ongoing transformation from PMR to hybrid and broadband systems.

From interoperability and cost pressures to digital transition and risk, we unpack the leadership challenges shaping the future of public safety.

Listen in to discover:

• The mission and influence of British APCO
• National priorities for public safety communications
• How user voices guide system evolution
• The balance of cost, resilience, and technology adoption

This isn’t just a technical deep dive. It’s a front-row look at the people, policies and decisions that keep public safety communications strong—today and for the future.

Duncan's privileged insider perspective makes compelling listening.

Duncan Swan has over 40 years’ experience of public safety technology and joined British APCO as COO in 2022. His role includes providing strategic and technical input into mobile communications and associated technologies for public safety organisations in the UK. In 2005 he was awarded the inaugural Gareth Wilkinson Memorial Award “in recognition and appreciation of outstanding leadership and contribution to the development of BAPCO, and personal commitment to the ideals and purpose of the Association”. He is a regular conference speaker, contributor and editorial adviser to industry journals, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology and a Member of the Institute of Directors.

Explore British APCO