Communication Showdown: IP DECT vs. Digital Radio - Which Technology Reigns Supreme for Mobile Workforces & Lone Workers?
We’ve all watched films or visited various facilities over the years and have seen communication devices that look like a mobile phone or a “walkie talkie” to enable people to communicate effectively with each other. However, while many people might incorrectly refer to these in layman’s terms as mobile phones and walkie talkies, they are known within the technology industry by different names, as many come with different pros and cons.
Chris Potts, Marketing Director at ANT Telecom explains that these technologies come in different forms – IP DECT and Digital Radio. He pits them against one another in a showdown to explain their differences, and the benefits of either when used to support communication within organisations, especially within lone working or mobile working situations.
Similar functionality
IP DECT and Digital Radio are both communication technologies that assist mobile workforces. They have similar functionality, for instance handsets can both support voice and messaging features, and both come with built in panic buttons and tilt sensors to protect lone workers. Either kind of platform can be networked too. So teams can communicate across multiple sites. Both can integrate with other 3rd party systems e.g. SCADA and BMS that can trigger site update messages and alarms to users’ devices. They can be used to open doors/gates directly from either a DECT phone or a Radio. Both offer ATEX handsets that can be used in intrinsically safe areas.
So if both platforms can do all of this, what can’t they each do, or what differences do they really have? In this match-up between these two communication technologies, we will assess which is the superior form of communication. Will it be IP DECT or will Digital Radio come out on top? Let the battle commence…
Round one: IP Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (IP DECT)
IP DECT provides users with the freedom to make and receive 1:1 telephone calls anywhere on a site. It’s commonly used in many sectors like retail, manufacturing, care homes, healthcare, and more. These handsets tend to be smaller and lighter than radio, and have features like a phone book where users can store all their contacts’ and will show the “numbers” the user has called, received and missed. It is similar to a mobile phone.
Unlike radio, where communication tends to be kept to short messages and announcements with other radio users, DECT users can stay on a call for as long as they like as the platform can handle multiple, simultaneous calls without blocking the system. IP DECT can also integrate seamlessly to other voice networks – such as IP-based UCaaS phone networks. This makes the technology versatile and enables users to be far more contactable. This allows users to speak with other DECT users but also customers, suppliers and other employees.
DECT is generally a 1:1 communication platform, though it can also be enhanced to allow one-to-many- calls (similarly to radio) where voice messages can be broadcasted to colleagues by pressing and holding down a button (PTT) on the DECT handset.
Round two: Digital Radio
Digital Radio helps users to communicate predominantly with other radio users on a 1-to-many basis. Unlike DECT, where users need to dial a number and wait till the call is answered before someone can speak, with radio, people simply push a button and talk. Colleagues will hear the announcement and can respond in similar fashion.
Radio can work back to back. This means that only the handsets are required in order to set the communication network up – no infrastructure is needed, like repeaters, to enable them work (though it can be enhanced with this technology). This makes radio solutions very quick to deploy too. Unlike DECT where multiple base stations are needed, with radio very large sites can often be covered with only one or two repeaters. These characteristics enable them to be used by businesses across almost all industry sectors, and they are commonly deployed both on and off site. This includes the same sectors that IP DECT is effective within, and more – such as oil and gas, utilities, mining, water treatment sites, and the construction industry.
Radio manufacturers tend to produce a broader range of handsets and accessories offering more choice. ATEX radio ranges include Zone 0/20 as well Zone 1/21. This means the devices can be used in intrinsically safe areas where there is a continuous presence of gas and dust within the atmosphere.
While it is accepted that radio is generally a one-to many platform, it also possible to have 1:1 conversations over radio too. It is possible for radio users to make and receive external telephone calls too, though additional hardware and is required.
Round three: cost implications of either
DECT and Radio handset costs are probably not too dissimilar in price when comparing low, middle and high end ranges. And even ATEX devices are more or less on par.
However, radio technology doesn’t require much additional infrastructure to make it work. Back to back radios can work fine on their own (albeit only together) and even large sites can be covered with a one or two repeaters. DECT, on the other hand, needs base stations and the larger the site, the more base stations are required. There are cabling costs too and ongoing support contracts tend to be higher with DECT because there is more hardware.
So in our experience DECT is generally more expensive when pricing like for like jobs – but users are also better connected too, so can get more value out of the solution as well.
Round four: application niches
There are some situations that radio makes more sense than DECT. In construction for instance Radio is always utilised as it is quick and easy to set up and deploy. Communication between workers is quite task oriented resulting in lots of short announcements, which works well over radio. Lengthy discussions conducted on site are done face to face and those that need to call suppliers or colleagues off site use 2G, 4G mobile phones. Once the construction is completed, radios can be easily deployed at the next job.
However, in industries where the workforce is highly mobile on site, IP DECT can help teams respond to events anywhere on site. In the pharmaceutical industry for instance departments like engineering, production, maintenance, operations, facilities and IT are often required to perform tasks throughout various areas of the site, yet must be contactable at all times.
Communication needs to be 1:1 in many of these case, rather than in a group; and employees are likely to need to speak with both internal as well as external parties. For example, engineering and maintenance teams will often need support from external suppliers to fix or service equipment. The ability to receive step by step instructions whilst working by a machine can be invaluable as it significantly increases 1st time fix rates, reduces downtime and increases overall equipment effectiveness.
The final round
So which platform comes out on top? What do the judges say? Who’s the winner?
That’s an easy one, as of course both solutions have their pros, cons and a place in the market. So it totally depends on each company’s set of requirements. Sometimes having to weigh up both options can be challenging especially when users/departments have different requirements and preferences. But this is where IT and operations teams need to work with technology providers to source the best advice about the most appropriate platform to use, to address the communication and safety need that has arisen within the business. Both solutions can help.