Page 8 - EngineerIT Nov-Dec 2025

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

BEHIND THE SCENES AT G20:

Public safety communications

in focus

s South Africa hosted its first G20 Leaders’ Summit, much of Security analysts say the G20’s scale is
the global attention focused on diplomacy, security layers, and unlike any other gathering South Africa
Athe country’s ability to manage the pressures of a high-stakes has hosted in recent years, placing
international event. Less visible but just as critical was the communication unprecedented pressure on frontline
infrastructure that kept frontline officers connected as tens of thousands agencies that must balance routine
of delegates, observers, and visitors moved across Johannesburg and duties with summit-related demands. The
Cape Town. reliability of their existing communication
systems allowed them to operate without
Although the national government oversaw all official summit the added risk of technical failures.
communications, public safety agencies on the ground — from metropolitan
police departments to emergency medical teams — depended heavily on “High-profile events place significant
their day-to-day radio networks to maintain operational continuity. Many demands on frontline operations,
of those teams relied on Hytera-built TETRA and broadband radios already and dependable communication is
deployed across municipal and emergency units. fundamental to effective coordination,”
said Mark Zheng, Managing Director
With major transport hubs, protest-risk areas, and motorcade routes of Hytera Southern Africa. “We are
operating at peak strain, uninterrupted voice and data communication honoured that our technologies continue
proved crucial. Officers used the radios to coordinate traffic diversions, to play a role in supporting the day-to-
manage medical callouts, and maintain visibility in crowded public spaces day work of public safety agencies across
where response times typically shrink during large events. South Africa.”

8 | EngineerIT November/December 2025