Airbus Defence and Space

1. How do you define “communication resilience” in the context of modern public safety and security operations?

Communication resilience means maintaining an unbroken, highly secure "nervous system" for first responders when terrestrial infrastructure fails or is destroyed. It is the ability to automatically switch to direct device-to-device modes, satellite links, and meshed deployable networks so mission-critical voice and data continue to flow seamlessly in any operational environment.

2. What are the most common causes of communication breakdowns during large-scale emergencies or crises today?

The primary causes are the physical destruction or unavailability of commercial cellular infrastructure during disaster events, coupled with commercial network congestion caused by public usage spikes. Additionally, different agencies often operate in separate silos using incompatible, proprietary communication systems, which prevents coordinated information sharing.

3. Can you share examples where overloaded networks or infrastructure failure significantly impacted emergency response efforts?

During large-scale natural disasters such as the 2024 floods in Valencia, Spain, or volcanic eruptions like Mount Dukono in Indonesia, commercial networks become completely unavailable or overwhelmed by public traffic. In these scenarios, public safety forces without dedicated mission-critical networks are left completely isolated, severely impairing rescue coordination.

4. How has the nature of crisis communications changed with the growing reliance on digital and broadband-based systems?

Crisis communications are evolving from basic voice transmissions into data-heavy multimedia collaboration. Broadband (4G/5G) allows first responders to share real-time video, high-resolution imagery, location data, and drone feeds. However, this digital shift requires strict traffic prioritisation, robust cybersecurity, and advanced workflow management to ensure critical information reaches the right users instantly.

5. In your view, why is it still critical to maintain traditional radio-based communication systems alongside newer broadband technologies?

Traditional narrowband networks (such as TETRA, Tetrapol, and P25) remain vital because they offer proven, dedicated voice reliability and coverage. In many areas, broadband or 5G coverage is only partially available, making a hybrid model essential so agencies can rely on narrowband voice while progressively migrating to data-rich broadband.

6. How does Airbus Public Safety and Security approach the integration of multi-layered communication systems (radio, LTE/5G, satellite, etc.)?

We deploy a hybrid architecture anchored by our Agnet multimedia platform. Agnet bridges legacy narrowband networks (TETRA, Tetrapol, DMR, P25) with 4G/5G broadband using smart interoperable gateways. When ground networks are compromised, the system seamlessly integrates Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations like OneWeb, or switches to direct device-to-device modes.

7. What role does interoperability play when different agencies—police, fire, medical, disaster response—need to coordinate in real time?

Interoperability is a non-negotiable prerequisite for real-time coordination. Major crises require police, fire, medical, and defence forces to act together. Without cross-platform interoperability, agencies are forced to lend each other equipment or work in isolated silos. Smart gateways break down these barriers, creating a shared operational picture to make fast, life-saving decisions.

8. How does real-time information sharing improve situational awareness and decision-making during emergencies?

Real-time data sharing provides a common, accurate operational picture across control centres and field personnel. By streaming live video, automated incident tracking, and unmanned asset feeds (drones/robots) directly into dispatch and ground teams' smart devices, decision-makers can act proactively rather than reactively under high-pressure conditions. Furthermore, broadband enables the use of significant amounts of location data and short messages, which brings situational awareness and first responder tracking to a new level.

9. What technological innovations are currently most impactful in ensuring uninterrupted connectivity during disasters?

The most impactful technological innovations ensuring uninterrupted connectivity begin with field-proven direct modes, such as Agnet Direct, which allow automatic device-to-device communication even when ground-based cellular networks are completely destroyed. Furthermore, the integration of satellite and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)—utilising Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations like OneWeb alongside deployable antennas—provides a reliable "network from the sky" when ground infrastructure fails. Finally, mobile tactical assets, including vehicle-mounted satellite nodes and deployable meshed networks, play a vital role by rapidly establishing local tactical bubbles of coverage in remote or degraded disaster areas.

10. How do you ensure communication systems remain operational in extreme conditions such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or infrastructure failures?

We guarantee availability through multi-layered redundancy and "built-in" security. This includes automatic failover to direct device-to-device modes, satellite backhaul, hardened hardware, and end-to-end ciphering/encryption. Furthermore, offering on-premises core deployments protects systems against cyber threats, targeted disruptions, and foreign access, ensuring full national data sovereignty.

11. What challenges do public safety agencies in the Asia-Pacific region face specifically when it comes to communication resilience?

The APAC region faces unique geography; vast archipelagos, dense urban centres, and remote terrains where commercial 5G coverage is fragmented or non-existent. Additionally, disaster management across APAC is often split between separate Ministries of Defence, Civil Defence agencies, and volunteers operating on disparate, proprietary systems with varied levels of cybersecurity.

12. How is Airbus helping governments and agencies transition from legacy systems to more integrated, digital-first communication ecosystems?

Airbus acts as an end-to-end system integrator. We guide governments through the transition from legacy narrowband to 4G/5G broadband by providing smart interoperable gateways (such as our partnership with Omnitronics). Our solutions are field-proven, having been successfully deployed across Europe and the Middle East. This allows agencies to retain their existing radio assets while introducing multimedia apps like Agnet, ensuring a seamless, low-risk migration path.

13. Looking ahead, how do you see AI, data analytics, and predictive systems shaping emergency communication and response coordination?

AI is transforming emergency response from reactive to predictive. Integrated within communication platforms, AI can analyse real-time video feeds for anomaly detection, automate incident classification, optimise resource allocation, and streamline workflow management. This reduces cognitive load on dispatchers and speeds up critical decision-making in high-stress scenarios.

14. Finally, what is the biggest misconception organizations still have about “always-on” communication systems in crisis situations?

The biggest misconception is assuming that commercial consumer broadband, commercial LEO satellite connections, or public cloud apps are sufficient for crisis management. Consumer platforms lack mission-critical features such as emergency call prioritisation, dispatch integration, operational cybersecurity, and physical resilience. True "always-on" resilience requires dedicated, public-safety-grade technology built specifically for crisis situations.