Critical Communications Conference: Sydney, 28 – 29 May 2025

Get ready Sydney, we’re coming back! Don’t miss the ARCIA Sydney Critical Communications Conference and NSW State Networking Dinner 2025!

Following a fantastic conference in 2024, we’re headed back to Sydney in May 2025, with an expanded program that now includes pre-conference workshops on Wednesday 28 May. 

Join us for the third ARCIA Critical Communications Conference in Sydney at the NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre. The Sydney conference features pre-conference workshops running on Wednesday 28 May, followed by a jam-packed stream of radio and critical communications presentations on Thursday 29 May. 

Finish off the day by getting together with your peers at the NSW Networking Dinner, where the highly anticipated winner of the NSW State Professional of the Year Award will be announced. You can make a nomination for this State Award via the ARCIA website until 2 May, 2025.

Book your workshops, conference and dinner tickets now >>

Half-day Workshops | Wednesday, 28 May
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre, 37 Reservoir St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010

Conference | Thursday, 29 May
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre, 37 Reservoir St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
Agenda coming soon! 

NSW State Networking Dinner | Thursday, 29 May
6:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Networking drinks from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Sydney Masonic Centre (SMC), 66 Goulburn St, Sydney NSW 2000

Numbers are strictly limited due to venue capacity for the conference and the dinner, so book your seats for you and your colleagues ASAP. Discounts apply on all rates for current ARCIA Members. Not a member yet? Join ARCIA now >> 

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Half-day workshops | W1 9:00am – 12:30 pm and W2 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm

• Workshop 1 | Private Cellular Networks (4G/5G) – The Fundamentals of the Technology and System Designs
• Workshop 2 | The TAK Imperative: Why Australian Mission Operations will Embrace this Unifying Common Operating Picture (Sponsored by Hypha Solutions)

Conference stream | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

• Announcements coming soon…

Panel Discussion 

• The Use of Satellite Communications in the Critical Communications Environment – Separating Fact from Fiction

Sydney 2025 Half-day workshops

Workshop 1 | Private Cellular Networks (4G/5G)  – The Fundamentals of the Technology and System Designs

Wednesday 2 April | 9.00 AM – 12.30 PM
Presented by: Simon Lardner | Head of Wireless Business, Vocus

This workshop is an introduction to the technical and commercial framework behind private cellular networks. It will provide students with the skills to be able to outline the key elements and components of a typical private cellular network . Students will gain an understanding of the fundamental drivers behind the technology, as well as the key elements behind developing a business case for network deployment. Students will be able to describe the evolution from 4G to 5G, along with the associated migration paths.

The course will cover:

• Background to cellular networks (1G to 5G) and the fundamental philosophies behind them.
• Differences between Public/consumer cellular networks and private/industrial networks.
• The technical and commercial benefits and limitations of industrial cellular networks.
• The architecture of private cellular networks.
• The complexities and issues especially associated with 4G/5G Public Safety networks
• Basic solution system design & the building blocks of a solution.
• An analysis of 5G compared to 4G, along with the migration paths available to network owners.

This course is for students who:

• Come from both a technical and non-technical background.
• Have been to the previous ARCIA training sessions on Private Cellular Networks, or have a prior fundamental understanding, and want to understand the latest industry developments in 5G and it’s potential impacts.
• Are interested in their organisation building a Private Network and want to understand how to go about it.
• Already have a 4G private network and are interested in the what or how of a 5G network.
• Want to separate vendor hype from technical and commercial reality.

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Workshop 2 | The TAK Imperative: Why Australian Mission Operations will Embrace this Unifying Common Operating Picture

Thanks to workshop sponsor Hypha Solutions, this workshop is free to attend in Sydney. Tickets are limited.
Wednesday 2 April |1.30 PM – 5.00 PM
Presented by: Graham Tait | Mesh Solutions Lead, Hypha, and Neil Jamieson |Group CEO, Hypha and Matt Franks | Senior Solutions Engineer, Hypha

As we explore TAK (Team Awareness Kit) to understand what it is, its opportunity for application and explore various use cases, this workshop will be an opportunity to hear from the experts and experience some hands-on training with TAK.

TAK delivers an interoperable unified common operating picture (COP) based on non-proprietary, open-source software developed and continuously updated by the US Department of Defence.

Australian public safety agencies and emergency management organisations can embrace the civilian TAK stream as a unified operational picture, that fits in the hands of remote emergency workers and is also available to benefit private-sector users too, including park operations, marathon and festival organisers and other large events and operations.

Hear how this life saving approach to technology use can serve Australia:

• Hear about strategies for deploying TAK on an enterprise scale, from device selection to end user training and adoption
• Observe in-depth case studies on the use of TAK for special events, law enforcement tactical operations, wildland firefighting, and search and rescue
• Learn about the large range of communications options for using TAK in remote/off-the-grid conditions
• Discuss the inclusion of TAK in interoperable communications planning, as a compliment to P25 radio, and as a scalable alternative to proprietary silos

Perth 2025 Conference Stream | 9:00am – 5:00pm

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More details coming soon!

Panel Discussion: The Use of Satellite Communications in the Critical Communications Environment – Separating Fact from Fiction

In recent years we have begun to see the use of satellite communications in critical communications environments like never before. Whilst we know and understand that technology, coverage and access has changed considerably in the last few years alone, and whilst some organisations have jumped in with both feet to adopt it’s use as part of an overall communications ecosystem, others have been slower to adopt the technology.

In this panel session we will look to separate fact from fiction with regard to its application and use; consider the threats and opportunities within the traditional LMR environment and we will also explore the barriers to entry that prevent some from making a move towards the adoption of the currently available solutions.

Conference Chair

Presenter Biographies

Coming soon!

Stay Tuned! Bookings open soon.

**The conference organisers reserve the right to make changes to the agenda at any time and without notice. Please check close to the conference date for the latest agenda.