There is rising interest in LTE as a network for the emergency services, allowing public safety agencies to replace proprietary communications systems with services that support standard handsets and broadband speeds. This sector will provide opportunities for specialized vendors which seldom get close to the large cellco deals, especially for technologies such as satellite integration and ad hoc deployment. An interesting project in this area was announced in the UK last week, with Avanti Communications, BAPCO and virtualized packet core specialist Quortus unveiling Project Hydra. Co-funded by the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board, this supports a complete LTE network, backhauled by satellite, which can be deployed rapidly, and in virtually any conditions, to provide secure communications for first responders. The…