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