Security Systems & Engineers: Ready for 4G?

New mobile technologies could transform IP security systems.

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Doubtless we’ve all see those adverts warning that upgrades to mobile phone networks are coming, which could disrupt your television viewing.

Annoying in many respects, but those upgrades are to implement the much vaunted 4G — the newer and faster mobile network that will open up super-fast data transmission speeds to mobile devices.

It’s not just your TV that might be disrupted, though. The new 4G system could be a disruptive force in the security arena — but this time, in a very positive way.

To understand why, it’s worth going back to first principles. The debate over the relevance of IP technology to the fire and security sector is now over, as the possibilities that it offers to clients are self-evident. There’s the ability to review footage remotely and in real-time, better quality imagery from CCTV, as well as the support available from combining systems with Remote Video Receiving Centres, not to mention exciting opportunities from developing fully integrated “smart” systems.

With that in mind, it’s worth reassessing what we do. After all, we’re not just in the business of supplying and installing security products. Many of us are now in the business of creating and transporting digital data. And that’s where 4G starts to matter.

Bigger, faster, stronger

The products we install nowadays generate large amounts of data that need to be transmitted. The ability to do this effectively is largely determined by the client’s network capability, through its Internet service provider. Although broadband connections are ubiquitous, the average upload speed — how fast data can be sent from a device to the network — is only around 2 Mbit/s.

If you’ve ever tried to watch an HD video on a 2 Mbit/s connection, you’ll know that just isn’t fast enough. That’s why 4G presents a real opportunity, as it offers upload speeds of between 20 and 50 Mbit/s, which is clearly light-years ahead of the existing infrastructure.

That means a system uploading through 4G will be able to transmit more data more quickly, which is good news for clients and RVRCs as they’ll have access to more information to help decide on a course of action during an incident. And they’ll be able to share better-quality data, too — they can provide information quickly to the emergency services, and use higher-resolution images, which could be the difference between securing a prosecution or watching a criminal walk free.

No more wires

The new mobile network offers another seemingly obvious but under-appreciated possibility — it is, of course, completely wireless.

This opens up a whole new set of possibilities. Not all sites that require security will necessarily have broadband connections — for instance, newly established construction sites could have expensive equipment that needs securing, but the infrastructure won’t be in place to connect cameras and alarms to a landline-based broadband network. However, as 4G connections operate on the mobile phone network, as long as coverage is available, these more challenging sites can benefit from the ability to transmit high-definition CCTV, audio, and other content.

It’s also not just for sites with low fixed-broadband provision. Clients can use 4G to keep their security systems entirely separate from their regular networks, so there is no need to reconfigure firewalls, routers, and other networked items that could cause disruption.

It won’t all be plain sailing, though, as during the current upgrade programme those security systems providers that handle 3G-based equipment may encounter some temporary disruption. However, nowadays, most mobile security devices are using 3G roaming SIMs, which enable switching between networks should one operator experience a temporary outage. As the networks upgrade, we expect to see the introduction of 4G roaming SIMs, which will, in the future, ensure new devices can connect to the faster network with minimal disruption.

In the short term, it’s unlikely that 4G will make an impact on your business right away. However, over the next two years, the technology is going to become more widespread and clearly open the door to being able to provide clients with better security and better protection.

Therefore smart installers and firms should look into what the new network could do for their business — and ensure their staff are trained and prepared accordingly if they wish to take advantage of the opportunities.

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