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Making Waves

Making Waves

Written by: DAMM Cellular Systems
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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.Copyright DAMM Cellular Systems
Episodes
  • Spotlight on Brazil : From designed need to delivery

    Spotlight on Brazil : From designed need to delivery
    Apr 10 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.

    • Deployment and operational challenges – Navigating the "2-year rule" and the realities that only surface after go-live.

    • Cost of ownership and lifecycle thinking – How high interest rates and operational scale are shifting the industry toward "Hardware as a Service."

    • User adoption and trust – Why earning the confidence of the person holding the radio is as vital as the signal itself.

    • Preparing systems for future evolution – How to bridge the "hybrid decade" between legacy LMR and the promise of LTE.


    This is a conversation packed with practical insights and a vital reminder that the real test of any communications system begins long after deployment.

    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

    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.
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    30 mins
  • From data to decisions: AI in critical communications

    From data to decisions: AI in critical communications
    Mar 3 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

    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/
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    29 mins
  • Leading the mission: How TCCA shapes the future of critical communications worldwide

    Leading the mission: How TCCA shapes the future of critical communications worldwide
    Feb 18 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:
    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 The Critical Communications Association - TCCA

    Links:
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DammVideoChannel
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/damm-cellular-systems
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    40 mins
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