Welcome to a new episode of our podcast!

Our guest is Granit Hasani, founder and CEO of The Rock Smart Security from Kosovo, a company that combines physical protection with cybersecurity. Granit and his team provide security services for homes, banks, institutions, and even critical infrastructure.

In addition, they offer cybersecurity services, including red team and blue team training, as well as cyber insurance coverage in case of a breach.

We talk about what it’s like to build a security business in Kosovo, why physical and digital security can’t exist without each other, and what the Balkan mindset still needs to learn when it comes to safety.

Motorola Solutions has released a statement saying that Hytera Communications Corporation Limited, a Chinese telecommunications company, has entered a felony guilty plea and executed a Plea Agreement to address the U.S. Department of Justice’s criminal prosecution of Hytera for misappropriation and theft of confidential trade secrets and proprietary information belonging to Motorola Solutions.

According to the release, in pleading guilty to felony conspiracy charges, Hytera admitted that it knowingly agreed to take, without authorisation, Motorola Solutions documents and source code related to DMR technology, and that it used that information to develop Hytera DMR products.

“Hytera‘s admission of guilt in federal court validates the extensive evidence that it is a bad actor and felon, and we remain firmly resolute to holding Hytera accountable for its egregious illegal conduct,” said Greg Brown, chairman and CEO, Motorola Solutions. “I appreciate the Department of Justice for its diligence in pursuing this matter. This case is critical validation that our government is fully committed to prosecuting criminals who steal from American companies. We will continue to vigorously defend our valuable intellectual property and trade secrets for the benefit of our company, our customers and our shareholders.”

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice filed felony charges against Hytera and seven of its employees, including former executive Gee Siong (G.S.) Kok. The federal grand jury indictment included 21 counts of federal criminal trade secret violations, including engaging in a decade-long criminal conspiracy to steal and use Motorola Solutions’ trade secrets and proprietary information. Mr. Kok pled guilty in 2023 and is awaiting sentencing; the other six Hytera employees are currently at large.

Under the terms of the Plea Agreement, Hytera is expected to be sentenced in November 2025, at which time the U.S. District Court is expected to order Hytera to pay restitution to Motorola Solutions and a criminal fine to the U.S. Government.

Hytera’s guilty plea does not resolve Motorola Solutions’ ongoing civil litigation against Hytera. Motorola Solutions is continuing to pursue collection of the more than $471 million judgment already awarded to it in its trade secret and copyright infringement litigation against Hytera in the United States, as well as injunctive and other relief to address Hytera’s misconduct.

15^th of January 2025, Oslo, Norway — Zenitel, a global leader in Unified Critical Communication solutions, proudly announces the launch of new range of IP Speakers, further strengthening its market leadership position within the safety and security communications.

The addition of new IP Speakers, together with Zenitel Connect Pro — the industry’s first Unified Critical Communication Platform — paves the way for unifying communication technologies to address life safety, security, and operational communication needs under a single platform.

Built to deliver unparalleled sound quality, Zenitel’s new and innovative IP Speakers feature a high-efficiency power amplifier that delivers a high sound pressure level, making it an ideal choice for high noise environments, in addition to the ability to cover larger areas with fewer speakers.

Bringing voices together with Zenitel IP speakers

Thanks to ONVIF and SIP compatibility, Zenitel’s new IP speakers simplify the integration into security systems, opening new possibilities for communication. Together with Zenitel Connect Pro, the new IP speaker range offers truly unified communication possibilities, enabling seamless communication among security personnel, control room operators, staff, and visitors.  With a wide range of use cases, including public address, emergency notifications, security announcements, and background music, the new Zenitel IP speakers transform reactive security systems into proactive and interactive solutions.

At the Forefront of Technology  

With up to 123dB SPL output, Zenitel’s new IP speaker range delivers excellent sound clarity for public address broadcasts, even in extremely noisy environments. With the ability to individually addressed, they provide cost-effective PA solutions for medium and small projects without losing zone granularity.

The innovative power supply design, featuring dynamic power management, delivers a full 30W output for voice applications even with standard PoE, eliminating the need for a PoE+ switch. In line with eco-design principles, Zenitel’s IP speakers are optimized to significantly reduce idle power consumption, helping lower energy costs.

Equipped with integrated speaker-as-a-microphone technology, the IP speakers become an essential part of a unified critical communication solution, enabling seamless one-way and bi-directional communication without requiring additional equipment.

Trusted Communication, Protected by Design

Zenitel is committed to ensuring the highest level of cybersecurity across all its technology offerings. Cybersecurity requirements are fundamental to any security specification today. Zenitel provides guidance, advanced technologies, and tools that support the industry’s best practices.

Zenitel’s latest IP speakers are no exception. Hardware Root of Trust on IP speakers provides a trusted foundation for verifying the integrity of hardware components, software, and data.

• Secure boot assures that the boot software is approved by Zenitel.
• Verified image upload assures that the software that is uploaded on the device comes with Zenitel approval.

“Last year, with the introduction of Zenitel Connect Pro, we laid a robust foundation for the future of unified critical communication (UCC) offerings. At the beginning of this new year, we are happy to share the launch of a new IP speaker range, further strengthening our UCC offerings,” says Lars Paulsson, EVP for Safety and Security at Zenitel. “The launch of our new IP speaker range marks a significant step in expanding our UCC offerings. As the demand for audio communication solutions grows, we believe these IP speakers will redefine Security, Safety and Operational communication,” Paulsson adds.

With our new IP speaker range, Zenitel reaffirms its commitment to setting industry benchmarks in critical communication, ensuring safety and seamless communication across every environment.

For more information about the new IP Speakers, please visit https://www.zenitel.com/next-generation-ip-speakers

 For more information about this product launch, please refer to our release bulletin

https://www.zenitel.com/sites/default/files/2025-01/A100K12303%20IP%20speaker%20range%20changes%20release.pdf

VuWall, a global leader in video wall control and visualization solutions, proudly announces its acquisition by Naxicap, a prominent private equity firm driving innovation in mission-critical technology. Naxicap previously acquired Guntermann & Drunck (G&D) in 2020 and Tritec Electronic in 2022. Now, with VuWall part of its portfolio, the companies are set to transform the control room industry with complementary technologies that elevate command and control environments worldwide.

This strategic alignment under Naxicap creates exceptional synergy, enabling the companies to leverage each other’s technology, workforce, and market presence. Combining VuWall’s cutting-edge software development expertise with G&D’s and Tritec’s renowned hardware development, this partnership fosters unparalleled collaboration and interoperability in control room environments. Customers will experience faster response times, streamlined operational workflows, and increased system reliability through seamlessly integrated video wall and KVM solutions.

As part of this new collaboration, Thorsten Lipp, CEO of G&D, will now also serve as the CEO of VuWall, steering both companies toward shared success. Markus Müller-Heidelberg will remain Managing Director of Tritec Electronic. Meanwhile, Paul Vander Plaetse, Founder of VuWall, will assume the role of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for VuWall, G&D, and Tritec, bringing his vision and expertise to lead global marketing strategies.

“This acquisition represents a significant milestone in our mission to bring together best-of-breed solutions in the control room industry,” said Joseph Pacher-Theinburg at Naxicap. “By leveraging the strengths of VuWall’s software development team and G&D and Tritec’s hardware expertise, we are unlocking new possibilities for innovation and market growth. ”

Paul Vander Plaetse added: “The integration of G&D’s world-class KVM technology with VuWall’s innovative IP video wall solutions is a game changer for command and control environments. This partnership will allow us to deliver a truly seamless experience, enhancing operational efficiency and situational awareness for our customers.”

VuWall and G&D will showcase their latest innovations at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2025 in Barcelona February 4-7, 2025. Discover VuWall’s innovative solutions at stand 5C700 and G&D’s latest technologies at stand 5J350. Schedule a meeting today at vuwall.com/ise to explore how we are transforming control room operations.

Together, VuWall, G&D, and Tritec are redefining the standards for control room technology, empowering organizations to achieve new levels of collaboration, efficiency, and interoperability in mission-critical environments. This collaboration is set to redefine control room operations across key industries, including public safety, transportation, security, utilities, state and local, government and defense, and enterprise sectors, driving new benchmarks in performance and reliability.

For any further questions regarding this transaction, please contact info@vuwall.com.