The Project 25 Technology Interest Group is pleased to publish a comprehensive P25 Technology Update with PPTs from 7 PTIG P25 panels presented at IWCE 2026.

The full PowerPoint presentations for each panel can be downloaded from the PTIG website using the link to the directory below:

Directory- PTIG P25 Technology Panel PPTs from IWCE 2026

P25 LMR & LTE: Better Together with Standards-Based Interworking

Brad Stoddard  (SWIC and Director, Michigan's Public Safety Communications System)

Jeremy Elder  (Director of Product Experience Technology, L3Harris)

Stephen Nichols  (Executive Director, PROJECT 25 TECHNOLOGY INTEREST GROUP)

John Lambrou  (Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff, Motorola Solutions)

Ramin Hafezi  (Director of Engineering, Tait Americas)

Jerry Drobka  (Network Solutions Architect, Etherstack)

Project 25 has over 3600 LMR systems on the air today offering Public Safety Grade PTT communications to First Responders nationwide. New Public Safety Broadband LTE systems offer expanded coverage and new features requiring higher data rates. Many users question what type of Mission Critical PTT Interworking will be available between the two technologies.

First, a P25 System Administrator's expectations for LMR/LTE Interworking. Then, a newly published "Study of Interworking between P25 LMR and 3GPP (MCPTT) Mission Critical Services" report from TIA TR-8 (responsible for P25 Standards) and The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) will be presented. This report includes scenarios and considerations for the use of a 3GPP Interworking Function (IWF) to enable interoperability of common standard services between LMR and LTE.

To conclude, concept definitions on the best use of P25 Standards based Interfaces to interoperate with the diverse set of LTE networks and products were shared. The Interfaces include the P25 Common Air Interface (CAI), P25 Inter SubSystem Interface/Console SubSystem Interface (ISSI/CSSI), and the P25 Digital Fixed Station Interface (DFSI) The concepts show what a First Responder agency could do to extend their P25 System for LTE Interworking.

New Testing Technologies for Compliance, Reliability, and Peace of Mind

Cheryl Giggetts  (Principal Consultant, CTA Consultants)

Ian Carpenter  (President, Vaild8)

David Adams  (Senior Director, Critical Communications, PCTEL)

Chris Lougee  (Business Development and Account Manager, Compliance Testing, LLC.)

Stephen Nichols  (Executive Director, PROJECT 25 TECHNOLOGY INTEREST GROUP)

Christopher Sadiq  (Applications Engineer, VIAVI Solutions)

Project 25 standards and technology have evolved over the last 37 years. New P25 Testing Technology has kept pace with a broad array of new testing products, services, labs and compliance assessment programs. These testing solutions are currently available to help users assure reliable operation for their Critical Infrastructure as well as the safety of their First Responders. Testing remains a key element to guide the procurement and maintenance of their systems.

The session began with an overview of the testing options available including: System, Network, and Subscriber Radio testing. Important considerations for testing during procurement, deployment and ongoing maintenance for LMR Systems will be shared. A new concept that allows Subscriber Radios to be tested automatically, "over the air" was be presented. Network linked testing at multiple P25 Infrastructure sites by a CAP accredited lab were detailed. 

Security Triad for P25 LMR: Encryption+Access+Cyber IDs

Scott Wright  (Sr. Telecommunications Engineer II/SWIC, State of CT/DESPP/DSET)

Hermina (Nina) Koshinski  (Chief of Radio Operations Engineering & Support, Pennsylvania State Police PA-STARNet)

Stephen Nichols  (Executive Director, PROJECT 25 TECHNOLOGY INTEREST GROUP)

Jeremy Elder  (Director of Product Experience Technology, L3Harris)

Project 25 Standards define "Defense in Depth" security for the nation's First Responders through a triad of three unique P25 Communication Security Services, each with an integral key management and delivery process. It is important to understand the unique capabilities that each service offers and how they can be combined and applied offering: confidentiality, Integrity, and availability for P25 voice, data, and network information.

The P25 Communications Services Security Triad:
• Voice and Data Encryption (256 bit AES): Encrypts and protects the voice and data information sent over the air.
• Link Layer Authentication (LLA): Protects the System from access by unauthorized users.
• Link Layer Encryption (LLE, Currently in development): Protects the data and User ID information sent on the Control Channel of the system.

P25 New Products and Services for 2026

Cheryl Giggetts  (Principal Consultant, CTA Consultants)

Rajit Jhaver  (Associate Vice President, Federal Engineering)

Susan Ronning, P.E., PMP, ASEP  (Owner and Principal Engineer, ADCOMM Engineering LLC)

Stephen Nichols  (Executive Director, PROJECT 25 TECHNOLOGY INTEREST GROUP)

This session explored the latest New P25 Products and Services from members of the Project 25 Technology Interest Group (PTIG). The slides described the user needs met, benefits to Public Safety, and the relevance of the new product or service to the existing market. This forum provided an efficient overview of new Project 25 offerings and allowed user agencies to ask questions and gather additional information.

The products and services were presented in a PPT informational news format.

P25 Case Studies: Real Systems, Real People, Real World

Brad Stoddard  (SWIC and Director, Michigan's Public Safety Communications System)

Michael Rohrbacher  (Director of Public Safety Communications, State of New Mexico Department of Information Technology)

Jason Haynes  (Radio Systems Manager, Buncombe County Information Technology Department)

Jim Holthaus  (Wireless Communication SME Consultant, US Department of Justice)

Stephen Nichols  (Executive Director, PROJECT 25 TECHNOLOGY INTEREST GROUP)

Brandon Diemer  (Deputy Chief, Radio & Spectrum Management Branch, Information Resources Directorate / National Park Service / Department of the Interior)

Veteran System Administrators and policy planners offerd a first-hand view of their experience with P25 technology. A description of their P25 Systems, architecture, and governance models was shared with lessons learned to maximize interoperability, performance, and cost-effective communications for their First Responders.

P25 Case Studies:
§ State of Michigan Statewide P25 MPSCS system. This Flagship system is now 30 years old and exemplifies broad user acceptance across the state now serving 124,000 radios utilized by more than 2100 agencies.
§ US Department of Justice operates a variety of DOJ secure AES encrypted P25 systems that paired with State and Local P25 networks serve numerous Federal law enforcement agencies nationwide.
§ State of New Mexico hosts a world-famous Balloon Festival each year in Albuquerque. Learn how P25 serves First Responder interoperability and safety for this massive event.
§ Ashville NC: With cellular and other infrastructure down The P25 network was a true lifesaver, allowing the county's rescue workers to communicate and help save lives and property across Ashville NC during Hurricane Helene.
§ National Park Service uses P25 as its primary LMR system to ensure ranger safety, coordinate search and rescue, and manage law enforcement and emergency operations in areas with little or no cell coverage. P25 provides secure, reliable communication, emergency alerts, and GPS tracking in the harshest of environments. NPS can interoperate seamlessly with local, state, tribal, and federal partners during wildfires, rescues, and other multi-agency incidents, making them the backbone of park communications.

P25 LMR Radios in Aircraft…. Not as Simple as You Thought

Kenneth Brown  (USFS Telecommunications Specialist Retired, Consultant)

Hermina (Nina) Koshinski  (Chief of Radio Operations Engineering & Support, Pennsylvania State Police PA-STARNet)

Stephen Nichols  (Executive Director, PROJECT 25 TECHNOLOGY INTEREST GROUP)

Brandon Diemer  (Deputy Chief, Radio & Spectrum Management Branch, Information Resources Directorate / National Park Service / Department of the Interior)

Project 25 LMR radios in aircraft create secure communications links to ground personnel for coordinated incident management in Wildland Fire, Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, and Natural Disaster relief/recovery. Many challenges and issues in both civilian and military aircraft have been identified and resolved over the previous two decades. The key to success is well engineered installation and programming of the aircraft radio and proper selection and mounting of the antenna.

The session was presented by Ken Brown, a nationally recognized expert in aircraft radio installation for the US Forest Service and numerous National Guard air operations. Attendees learned why simply hopping on board an aircraft with a portable radio does not work and can cause serious issues for the aircraft's operation. Also presented were Multi band P25 aircraft radios, specifically designed for aircraft use, and how P25 ground subscriber radios can be adapted.

In addition, Brandon Diemer, Deputy Chief, Radio & Spectrum Management Branch of the National Park Service shared how aircraft are used to support fire and law enforcement in National Parks nationwide. He detailed the use of aircraft for wildland fire fighting including spotter, tanker, and smoke jumper operations managed by National Fire Center in Boise ID.

Lastly, Hermina (Nina) Koshinski presented her experience with aircraft support and issues identified during a series of critical manhunts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Law Enforcement interoperability using the Pennsylvania State Police PA-STARNet state-wide system was shared.

Project 25 for the Future

John Lambrou  (Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff, Motorola Solutions)

Jeremy Elder  (Director of Product Experience Technology, L3Harris)

Don Root  (Project 25 Manager, APCO International)

Scott Wright  (Sr. Telecommunications Engineer II/SWIC, State of CT/DESPP/DSET)

Stephen Nichols  (Executive Director, PROJECT 25 TECHNOLOGY INTEREST GROUP)

Ramin Hafezi  (Director of Engineering, Tait Americas)

Project 25 Technology has evolved over the last 36 years with new standards and capabilities enabling interoperability that assures operational efficiency and safety for First Responders and citizens alike. Today P25 technology remains critically important to government agencies, and critical infrastructure users with over 3600 systems on the air, 42 state-wide networks in the USA, and systems operating in over 80 nations worldwide.

Attendees learned what the future holds for this user driven technology in an increasingly complex world; including the roadmap for Standards based P25 LMR interworking with LTE. The latest 2026 update for P25 standards recently published and new standards in development were shared.

Improved First Responder safety is possible through a variety of new capabilities including P25 emergency alarms (man-down, vehicle sensed, accessory sensed, and new silent alarm and remotely activated alarm), "GPS location on PTT"-enabling situational awareness and tracking for every call, and a new multi-vendor "User ID alias" sharing plain English user-names across multiple systems and talk groups.

Robust security and Encryption is essential in today's threat environment. Attendees learned about P25 "Defense in Depth" through 256 bit AES voice and data encryption, new P25 Link Layer Security Standards (Cyber Security for P25 Control Channels and Unit IDs), and an improved multi-mode Key-fill Device interface and "over the air" rekeying capabilities. In addition, new Technical Service Bulletins offer recommended radio specs to mitigate broad-band interference and offer accurate coverage predictions including "In-Building" applications.