Hytera Helps AFAD Improve Emergency Response

Istanbul’s Disaster and Emergency Management Department (AFAD) has upgraded its communications infrastructure with Hytera’s DMR Tier III Simulcast Trunking solution to enable faster coordination between emergency services during disasters and other critical situations. Operating under the Turkish Ministry of Interior, AFAD previously relied on aging conventional DMR infrastructure and multiple independent networks used by different departments, which limited interoperability and reduced the efficiency of emergency response.

A key objective of the project, implemented in 2025 and 2026, was to connect existing analog, DMR, military, and HF communication systems from different vendors into a single resilient network while making more efficient use of limited radio-frequency resources. To achieve this, 30 DMR base stations using simulcast technology were deployed, marking the first successful implementation of a DMR trunking simulcast system of this kind in Istanbul and providing extensive coverage across the city.

Simulcast technology enables multiple base stations to transmit simultaneously using the same frequency and modulation, while precise transmission coordination prevents interference and allows the infrastructure to operate as a single large network. Users can therefore move seamlessly between different base-station coverage areas without changing channels or radio settings.

The solution includes Hytera’s DMR Tier III Simulcast Trunking infrastructure, DS-6211 base stations, HR659 repeaters, HP789 handheld radios, HM789 mobile and fixed radios, the SmartOne dispatch system, the MRPS recording and playback system, and the HyTalk Pro PoC platform. An important advantage is its ability to integrate existing multi-vendor equipment and connect PMR systems, public mobile and traditional telephone networks, as well as IP-based VoIP communications, allowing AFAD to continue benefiting from previous investments in communications infrastructure.

The unified network provides centralized voice dispatch, map-based visualization with real-time GPS location data, and a wide range of communication functions, including individual, group, priority, and emergency calls. As a result, firefighting, medical, police, and other emergency services in Istanbul can coordinate their activities more efficiently during incidents, while AFAD benefits from more stable communications, improved coverage, and more efficient use of available frequencies.

More information is available from Hytera.