The Global Certification Forum and TCCA have added interoperability testing to GCF certification for 3GPP-based Mission Critical Services, introducing a new stage for products used on 4G and 5G mission critical networks.
Manufacturers seeking GCF certification for Mission Critical Services implementations must now pass both conformance and interoperability testing. The new tests are designed to verify that mission critical clients and devices work with different commercial network servers across live private LTE and 5G networks.
Two facilities have been recognised to provide the service: Ericsson's Device and Network Test Lab and RISE test infrastructure AstaZero, both approved as Recognised Test Organisations for Mission Critical Services interoperability testing.
The certification work covers applications collectively known as MCS, including Mission Critical Push-to-Talk, Mission Critical Video and Mission Critical Data. These services are used by first responders, public safety agencies and critical infrastructure operators that need communications systems to work across devices, networks and applications.
Until now, vendors often had to arrange testing on live mission critical networks at different stages of deployment across markets. The new set-up allows companies to test products in controlled environments using live 4G and 5G networks that support mission critical services.
Testing framework
The interoperability programme was developed through the Mission Critical Services Workstream, a joint industry effort involving GCF and TCCA members. Frequentis and Eviden played leading roles in building the scheme, which focuses on functional interoperability between products from different suppliers.
Adding interoperability testing gives operators another benchmark when buying certified products. The process is intended to show not only that a product meets technical specifications, but also that it can work with systems beyond a single-vendor environment.
Freddie Södergren, Head of Mission Critical Networks and Defence at Ericsson, said: "The launch of the Interoperability testing for GCF Mission Critical Certification programme marks an important milestone for the entire public safety ecosystem. As one of the first GCF Recognised Test Organisations for MCS Interoperability testing, Ericsson's Device & Network Testing Lab is proud to support our customers in validating that their MCS clients and devices meet both 3GPP standards and real-world interoperability requirements. Ultimately, the GCF Certification programme helps build a truly interoperable ecosystem, where devices, networks and applications can connect and perform consistently under the most demanding conditions, supporting first responders and critical infrastructure operators with secure, reliable and standards-based communications when it matters most."
Peter Janevik, Chief Executive Officer of RISE test infrastructure AstaZero, said: "We are proud to contribute to the advancement of interoperable MCS solutions together with our industry partners. Looking forward we are now able to help our customers throughout their journey towards MCS standards compliance, providing knowledge transfer, GCF Conformance test and now also GCF Interoperability test. This work also complements our broader focus on mission critical communications, connected transport and resilient, larger systems of systems relying on 3GPP connectivity."
Industry push
The move reflects a broader effort by the mobile and critical communications sectors to build common certification processes for broadband services used in emergency response and infrastructure operations. Interoperability has been a recurring issue as organisations shift from traditional narrowband systems to LTE and 5G-based platforms carrying voice, video and data services.
Users of mission critical communications have typically placed a premium on reliability, security and cross-network consistency. A formal interoperability stage in certification is intended to reduce the risk of products performing differently when deployed on different suppliers' systems.
Charlotte Roesener, Head of MCX Product & Technology at Frequentis, said: "This progress is a strong testament to the power of global collaboration. The rapid advancement we are seeing highlights the industry's shared commitment. IOP testing marks the next critical milestone in ensuring true interoperability across systems from different vendors."
Markus Hofbauer, Head of MCX Architecture at Frequentis, said: "Frequentis is a strong contributor to MCS conformance and interoperability (IOP) activities, actively shaping the evolution of open ecosystems at the MCS application layer. Safeguarding long-term customer investments and preventing vendor lock-in are deeply embedded in the Frequentis philosophy."
For suppliers, a recognised route for interoperability testing may simplify product development and certification planning. For operators, it offers a more structured way to assess whether certified equipment and applications are likely to work together in mixed environments.
Christian Heinrich, Head of MCS CNI at Eviden, said: "The introduction of interoperability testing within the GCF Mission Critical Certification program is a key step toward building a truly open and reliable MCS ecosystem. At Eviden, we strongly believe that ensuring end-to-end interoperability across devices, networks, and applications is essential to support mission-critical users in real operational environments. Through our world-leading MCX client and our active contribution to the MCS Workstream, we remain committed to advancing standardized, secure, and resilient mission-critical communications for public safety and critical infrastructure operators worldwide."