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Australia — October 2026 — Etherstack plc (ASX: ESC), a global provider of wireless communications software and mission-critical communications technology, has won the 2026 Industry Innovation Award from the Australian Radio Communications Industry Association (ARCIA). The award was presented at the annual ARCIA Gala Dinner & Awards, recognising innovation and excellence across Australia's critical communications industry.
Etherstack received the accolade for its 3GPP-compliant Interworking Function (IWF) technology, developed by its Sydney-based engineering team. The platform enables interoperability between legacy land mobile radio (LMR) networks and next-generation LTE and 5G broadband systems, supporting the evolution of public safety communications infrastructure.
As public safety agencies and critical infrastructure operators transition towards broadband communications, maintaining interoperability with existing radio networks remains a key technical and operational priority. Etherstack's LMR-IWF technology addresses this challenge by enabling communication between established digital radio systems, including P25 and TETRA, and cellular-based Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT) and other mission-critical services.
Built on 3GPP standards, the solution supports the integration of legacy radio infrastructure with modern broadband networks, helping public safety organisations, utilities and emergency services maintain operational continuity while adopting next-generation communications capabilities. This standards-based approach also supports multi-vendor interoperability, reduces dependence on proprietary integration methods and helps protect existing infrastructure investments.
Developed in Australia, Etherstack's IWF technology is being deployed in major public safety communications initiatives internationally, reflecting the growing importance of standards-based interoperability in the transition from narrowband radio to broadband mission-critical communications.
In the United States, AT&T has selected Etherstack as a strategic supplier of its 3GPP-compliant IWF technology to support the integration of radio systems with cellular network infrastructure.
In the United Kingdom, Etherstack's LMR-IWF solution has been incorporated into the Emergency Services Network (ESN) programme, supporting interoperability between the legacy Airwave TETRA network and the next-generation cellular-based communications environment for emergency services.
These initiatives highlight the role of interworking technology in enabling public safety organisations to modernise their communications infrastructure while maintaining connectivity with established operational systems.
The 2026 ARCIA Industry Innovation Award recognises Etherstack's contribution to advancing critical communications technology through standards-based engineering and practical interoperability solutions. The recognition also highlights the international application of Australian-developed technology in addressing complex communications challenges across public safety and critical infrastructure sectors.
As governments and emergency services worldwide continue to evolve their communications networks, 3GPP-compliant interworking solutions are expected to remain an important component of the transition towards integrated LMR and LTE/5G mission-critical communications.
