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Making Waves is a podcast by DAMM exploring the technology, people, and challenges shaping critical communications. From PMR radio to next-gen broadband, we talk with experts and frontline users to...
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Making Waves is a podcast by DAMM exploring the technology, people, and challenges shaping critical communications. From PMR radio to next-gen broadband, we talk with experts and frontline users to uncover the innovations and decisions that keep teams connected when it matters most.
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Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
10 APR 2026 · Making critical communications work in the real world.
Designing a system is one thing; making it perform reliably under pressure is another. In this episode of Making Waves, we turn the spotlight on Brazil where vast geography and extreme industrial demands reveal what truly determines the success of mission-critical communications.
 Joining us is Matheus B. Silva, COO of Alcon Engenharia de Sistemas and Kofre Tecnologia, to share hard-won lessons from the intersection of engineering, business reality, and human trust. Drawing on his experience managing hundreds of thousands of users across Brazil’s most challenging environments, Matheus unpacks:
- Engineering decisions that impact long-term reliability – Why the infrastructure surrounding the tech is often the weakest link.Â
- Deployment and operational challenges – Navigating the "2-year rule" and the realities that only surface after go-live.Â
- Cost of ownership and lifecycle thinking – How high interest rates and operational scale are shifting the industry toward "Hardware as a Service." Â
- User adoption and trust – Why earning the confidence of the person holding the radio is as vital as the signal itself.Â
- Preparing systems for future evolution – How to bridge the "hybrid decade" between legacy LMR and the promise of LTE. Â
This is a conversation packed with practical insights and a vital reminder that the real test of any communications system begins long after deployment. Â
Timeline:
00:00:00 Key highlights
00:01:15 Introduction and guest welcome
00:02:18 Company overview: Alcon-Kofre & D1 Capital
00:03:35 The Brazilian context: Success & strategy
00:05:07 Engineering realities: Power & infrastructure
00:07:11 Business model: Hardware as a Service (HaaS)
00:14:52 The human element: Building user trust
00:17:42 The future: Hybrid networks & LTE
00:21:11 Rapid-fire round
00:27:10 Wrap-up & closing Â
About:
Matheus B. Silva is the COO of Alcon Engenharia de Sistemas and Kofre Tecnologia. A leader at the forefront of the "Hardware as a Service" (HaaS) model, he and his team support over 850,000 subscribers across 8,000 networks, delivering vital communication lifelines to the largest mining and energy players in Latin America.
3 MAR 2026 · Discover how AI enhances critical communications, boosting situational awareness, decision support, and operational resilience while keeping humans in control and systems safe, secure, and trusted.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering mission-critical environments - but how can it create real value for the people operating critical communications systems every day?
In this episode, we speak with Paras Kulkarni and Walter Bensing from IrisNet about the practical application of AI in critical communications and mission-critical operations. Rather than exploring AI as a theoretical concept, the discussion focuses on operational impact: improving situational awareness, supporting human decision-making and strengthening resilience in environments where reliability and trust are essential.
We explore how AI helps transform large volumes of visual data into actionable insight, how human-AI collaboration enhances safety, and why trust, ethics and transparency are fundamental when deploying AI in critical infrastructure. In this episode, we cover:
• AI for situational awareness
• Decision support systems
• Human–AI interaction in mission-critical operations
• Safety, trust and ethical AI deployment
• AI in critical infrastructure environments
• Operational resilience through intelligent systems
A grounded conversation that cuts through the AI hype to explore where artificial intelligence genuinely delivers value in mission-critical communications, becomes a trusted operational tool - supporting people, strengthening systems and reinforcing operations where failure is not an option.
Timeline:
00:03:14 Introduction: AI in critical communications
00:04:38 AI as decision support and situational awareness
00:07:08 Human control, trust and legal responsibility
00:09:54 Protecting personnel and critical infrastructure
00:11:48 How AI vision systems work in practice
00:12:50 Managing complexity and reducing false alarms
00:16:01 Integration, deployment and real-world use cases
00:17:13 Trust, security, compliance and ethics
00:23:15 Rapid-fire insights: myths, risks and opportunities
00:27:11 Future outlook and closing remarks Â
About IrisNet
IrisNet GmbH is a Germany-based AI company specialising in visual computing and real-time image and video analysis. Its technology enables organisations to interpret live video streams, detect events and support operational decisions while keeping data processing secure and aligned with strict privacy requirements. IrisNet focuses on practical AI solutions designed for real-world industrial, safety and critical communication use cases.
Learn more about Irisnet: https://irisnet.de/
18 FEB 2026 · The connectivity fabric: Balancing trusted voice with broadband
TCCA CEO Kevin Graham explores the global evolution of mission-critical standards, the multi-decade longevity of TETRA, and the strategic roadmap for agencies transitioning to MCX and hybrid broadband environments.
When the mission can’t fail, the technology can’t either. But as the world moves from traditional narrowband to data-rich broadband, how do we ensure that the "trusted voice" of a first responder never disappears?
In this episode of Making Waves, we sit down with Kevin Graham to unpack the complex global shift in mission-critical communications. Kevin provides a masterclass on why open standards are the only way to navigate a future where LMR, LTE, and even satellite connectivity must coexist.
We dive deep into:
- The "connectivity fabric": Why Kevin believes agencies shouldn't just look at hardware, but at a unified architecture that works across any network.
- TETRA’s long horizon: Why narrowband isn’t going away anytime soon and why industry leaders are still investing heavily in its R&D.
- The reality of MCX: Identifying the real "readiness gaps" in mission-critical broadband - from device ecosystems to user training.
- Global lessons: How regions like France, Finland, South Korea, and the US are pathfinding the transition to hybrid networks.
Whether you are in public safety, transport, or utilities, this conversation offers a strategic roadmap for balancing the reliability of the past with the functionality of the future.
Listen in for a high-impact look at the technology that keeps the world’s protectors connected.
Timeline:Â
0:00 Intro: Welcome to Making Waves
01:01 Meet Kevin Graham: 30 years of critical comms
02:23 The global state: Narrowband vs. data-centric futures
05:27 Why open standards matter: Multi-vendor ecosystems
07:12 The predictability of interoperability: Lessons from TETRA
08:32 The reality of MCX: Training, workflows, and readiness
10:03 Defining the "connectivity fabric": Governance & architecture
11:29 Global trends: Pathfinding in Korea, Finland, and the US
14:54 Spectrum: Securing the "oxygen" for mission-critical data
18:38 TETRA's longevity: Why industry is still investing in R&D
22:04 Sustainability & scale: Partnering with mobile operators
23:43 Successes & gaps: Lessons from FirstNet and others
27:07 Human-centric Tech: Adapting workflows for MCX
29:54 Strategic advice: A roadmap for national agencies
31:19 The TCCA community: Collaboration over competition
32:50 Upcoming 2026 events: CCW, BAPCO, and more
35:10 Episode recap: The path to a harmonised future
About the guest
With over 30 years of international experience, Kevin Graham is a global authority on mission-critical systems. As the CEO of TCCA, he leads the world’s premier association for standardised critical communications. Kevin has held senior engineering and executive roles across the APAC region, the USA, and Europe, playing a pivotal role in driving the open standards that secure public safety, transport, and utilities worldwide. His expertise bridges the gap between the reliable radio networks of today and the 5G and satellite innovations of tomorrow.
Learn more about https://tcca.info/
Links:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DammVideoChannel
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/damm-cellular-systems
Transcribed
6 JAN 2026 · Keeping a national energy network connected 24/7 leaves no room for downtime – and no room for short-term thinking. In this episode of Making Waves, we explore how large energy operators can modernise mission-critical communications without disrupting operations, safety or continuity.
Joined by Witchukorn Naewwong (JC), Founder and Team Principal at Seanet Asia, this conversation goes beyond technology upgrades. It examines the strategic decisions behind transforming legacy radio networks into resilient, future-ready communication platforms across Thailand’s oil and gas sector.
What does true modernisation look like when systems must operate continuously for decades? And how can operators evolve without introducing new risks? Drawing on real-world experience from pipeline networks and gas separation plants, JC shares a practitioner’s view on resilience, decentralisation and long-term sustainability.
Listen in to discover:
- Why voice remains the foundation of mission-critical operations
- How phased migration enables transformation without downtime
- Decentralised architectures and the elimination of single points of failure
- Bridging legacy and new systems to protect long-term investments
- Energy efficiency and sustainability as strategic design criteria
- Why the future of critical communications is hybrid by design
This is not just a technical discussion. It’s a real-world look at how large industrial operators modernise with confidence, keeping people safe today while building a foundation for the next decade.Â
Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
02:45 Understanding the challenge
05:58 Bridging with the future
08:47 Where technology meets sustainability
10:42 Project now and looking ahead
15:41 Wrap-up Â
About the guest Witchukorn Naewwong (JC) is the Founder and Team Principal at Seanet Asia, leading its mission-critical communications business. With years of hands-on experience supporting national energy and industrial operators in Thailand, JC helps organisations design and deploy communication systems that are resilient, secure and adaptable. His work focuses on long-term platform thinking – enabling operators to modernise safely while remaining ready for whatever comes next.Â
Learn more about Seanet Asia: https://www.seanetasia.com/en
Links:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DammVideoChannel
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/damm-cellular-systems
2 DEC 2025 · Keeping critical communications networks future-ready is no simple task. In this episode, we speak with Peter Clemons, founder of Quixoticity and a leading voice in mission-critical communications, about the challenges, timelines, and innovations shaping MCX adoption worldwide.
What does it take to migrate from trusted PMR systems like TETRA to next-generation MCX technologies while keeping public safety connected? We explore the evolving landscape of mission-critical broadband with Peter, who shares insights from three decades of experience driving adoption, standards, and interoperability.
From migration timelines and spectrum strategy to open standards and operational challenges, we unpack the factors influencing the future of critical communications.
Listen in to discover:
- The role of MCX in modern public safety networks
- Global migration timelines and regional adoption trends
- How open standards and interoperability unlock innovation
- Balancing cost, resilience, and technological evolution
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
04:26 The birth of MCX
06:20 Searching for new ground
08:46 From public safety to new verticals
10:46 Clear communications are life critical
12:39 Moveable MCX timelines
15:00 Restrictive supply and service models
18:36 Interoperability is the key
21:22 One-to-many: the essence of critical communications
23:53 The challenges of migration
26:13 Open standards will unlock potential
28:27 Where cost is no barrier
31:20 Active partnerships
33:55 Indexing trendsÂ
This isn’t just a technical conversation. It’s an insider view of the people, policies, and strategic decisions shaping mission-critical communications today and for the decades ahead.
Peter Clemons has 30 years’ experience in professional mobile radio and broadband critical communications. As founder of Quixoticity, he advises on MCX adoption, system integration, and international standards. Peter has worked across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, contributing to TETRA success stories and driving the evolution toward 3GPP-based mission-critical services.Â
Follow Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-clemons-041845/
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/damm-cellular-systems
Youtube: https://youtu.be/3nWcLcof7Rs
18 NOV 2025 · In critical communications, lives and operations depend on networks that never fail. In this episode, Terence Ledger shares insider insights on what it takes to deliver 99.999% uptime, keep users connected across sectors from public safety to mining, and prepare for the transition to hybrid and broadband networks.
Hear why even the smallest details - like SIM management - can make or break a mission-critical system, and what lessons global deployments, including in the Middle East, reveal about resilience, security, and user trust.
Listen in to discover:
- How to build networks that users can rely on, anywhere in the world
- Â The design choices that impact uptime and operational effectiveness
- Preparing organisations for hybrid and broadband adoption
- Sustainability and global support in critical communications
This isn’t just about technology, it’s about people, decisions, and systems that keep mission-critical communications running when it matters most.
Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
03:13 Market signals and revenue strategy
11:40 Product evolution and customer benefit
16:49 Global reach & diverse sectors Â
20:47 Innovation, sustainability & brand trust Â
28:45 Vision & industry outlook Â
33:22 Wrap-up
Terence Ledger is the Regional Director, APAC, Middle East and Africa at Sepura. He has nearly 15 years of experience shaping critical communications worldwide. His perspective blends strategic insight, operational expertise, and a deep focus on user-centric, reliable, and secure network solutions.
4 NOV 2025 · 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.
21 OCT 2025 · 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).Â
- 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 IntroductionÂ
03:55 The big pictureÂ
11:20 Reliability market realities and friction pointsÂ
22:15 Investment, innovation & cost of ownershipÂ
30:31 Security, regulation & resilienceÂ
36:13 Looking aheadÂ
44:20 Wrap-up Â
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
7 OCT 2025 · 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 Â
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.
30 SEP 2025 · 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?Â
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. Â
Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
03:25 Comms in energy operations
08:34Â Resilience in harsh environments
18:01 Cost, efficiency & total ownership
23:29Â Sustainability and comms strategy
30:47 Lessons, leadership & future direction
38:15 Wrap-upÂ
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.
Making Waves is a podcast by DAMM exploring the technology, people, and challenges shaping critical communications. From PMR radio to next-gen broadband, we talk with experts and frontline users to...
show more
Making Waves is a podcast by DAMM exploring the technology, people, and challenges shaping critical communications. From PMR radio to next-gen broadband, we talk with experts and frontline users to uncover the innovations and decisions that keep teams connected when it matters most.
show less
Information
| Author | DAMM Cellular Systems |
| Organization | DAMM Cellular Systems |
| Categories | Technology |
| Website | dammcellular.com |
| marketing@damm.dk |
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