Walkie-talkie licence or licence-free walkie-talkies
When do you need a radio licence for walkie-talkies in the Netherlands, and how does nationwide push-to-talk work without a licence over the mobile data network?
There are many kinds of walkie-talkies. Models range from simple toys to nationwide radio systems that require a licence.
Walkie-talkies usually work on UHF or VHF frequencies. There are classic analogue systems and digital systems. The range of a walkie-talkie is usually limited by its transmit power. Depending on the range and the frequency used, you sometimes need to apply for a licence from the Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure (RDI, formerly Agentschap Telecom).
Sometimes dozens of applications have to be filled in. Read why.
A separate licence is required for each frequency used. In practice, each walkie-talkie group needs its own frequency. If an organisation or company wants to use more than two frequencies, that is very difficult. World Walkie Talkie supports an unlimited number of groups per customer.
Covering a large area requires building a radio trunk. Installation costs are high, and when a trunk is built for multiple groups, costs rise steeply.
There are several digital radio technologies: DMR, TETRA and PMR. In the Netherlands, the TETRA standard is used for the C2000 system of the police and other government services. There is also a commercial version of this system, operated by the company Entropia. Its range covers about 70 percent of the Netherlands, and a licence is required to use it.
There are also new technologies that make push-to-talk possible over other communication networks. World Walkie Talkie offers a solution that works throughout the Netherlands and throughout Europe. The Entropia system only works in the Benelux, so not, for example, in Germany or France. The World Walkie Talkie system works throughout Europe and even in other parts of the world.
Push-to-talk over the mobile network
The World Walkie Talkie system works over the mobile data network, using Push-to-Talk over Cellular technology. Its range is virtually unlimited. We supply our walkie-talkies with SIM cards on the KPN network, which covers more than 98% of the Netherlands.
Our walkie-talkies use very little data. An active walkie-talkie uses about 4 MB per day for its continuous connection to the system and for GPS location tracking. A 500 MB data bundle is enough in most cases, so data costs are low.
Using them abroad is cheap too: thanks to roam like at home, there are no extra costs for using a Dutch SIM card in other EU countries.
The system is very secure. Every walkie-talkie has its own connection to the system over the mobile data network and cannot be eavesdropped on.
Advantages of World Walkie Talkie
- No radio licence needed, even with dozens of walkie-talkie groups
- No costs for multiple groups
- Unlimited number of groups
- Video features: live view from walkie-talkie cameras and video calls; can also be used as a portable camera monitoring system
- Event and voice recording
- GPS tracking and recording as standard
- Dispatch Console for dispatch and coordination rooms
- Track walkie-talkie locations on Google Maps