Narrowband | 2025-09-30
New LTE handset strengthens 450 MHz ecosystem for utilities, transport, and energy sectors.
Hytera Communications unveiled the PNC660, its first 450 MHz mission-critical ruggedized smart device for the European market, during the 450 MHz Alliance Conference held In Krakow, Poland from 29 September–1 October.
The launch follows the company’s admission to the 450 MHz Alliance earlier this year and signals an accelerated roadmap of 450 MHz-native products aimed at public-safety-grade voice, data, and video services.
Engineered for utilities, transport, and energy grids, the PNC660 couples LTE broadband throughput with narrow-band 450 MHz propagation advantages. A 3 W class-3 UE RF output extends cell radius by up to 40 % compared with standard 0.2 W handsets, cutting site count and total cost of ownership for wide-area private networks.
Key technical features:
- Dual-SIM dual-standby (450 MHz + any commercial LTE band) for carrier redundancy
- 3.2-inch Gorilla-Glass 3 HD display, glove- and wet-hand operable
- 5 000 mAh removable battery rated >20 h 5:5:90 duty, 8 h continuous video streaming
- IP68 (2 m/4 h) and MIL-STD-810H salt-fog, thermal-shock, and drop-1.5 m concrete certification
- Optional IEC-Ex / ATEX Zone 2/22 intrinsically-safe variant for oil, gas, and chemical plants
- Programmable red emergency key, man-down sensor, and lone-worker timer with automatic video upload
- Android™ 13 with Hytera HALO platform: MCPTT, MCVideo, MCData, end-to-end AES-256 / SIM-scrambling, and over-the-air zero-touch provisioning
A dedicated 13 MP rear camera with PTT-activated live-stream allows control rooms to see incidents in real time, while the front 5 MP unit supports HD video telephony for remote maintenance. A side-mounted, textured PTT button and 2 W loudspeaker deliver 106 dB nominal loudness, ensuring intelligibility in high-noise substations or rail yards.
Sophia Yin, General Manager of Hytera Europe, described the handset as “a cornerstone of our 450 MHz portfolio. Over the next twelve months we will release complementary infrastructure and terminal products that allow utilities, transport operators, and energy providers to migrate smoothly to secure, carrier-independent broadband while preserving legacy PMR investments.”
The 450 MHz band is increasingly viewed by regulators and network operators as a mid-range sweet-spot for critical communications: propagation characteristics rival those of traditional UHF PMR, yet the 3GPP-standardised band supports LTE QoS mechanisms required for group call, pre-emption, and low-latency video.
Hytera has aligned its development cycle with initiatives led by the 450 MHz Alliance and 450Connect to ensure end-to-end interoperability. “We are working closely with chipset vendors, test houses, and early-adopter utilities so that every PNC660 shipped is ready for day-one deployment on operational 450 MHz networks,” Yin added.
A product video released concurrently with the conference illustrates the PNC660’s key features and can be viewed here:
Social Media Statement
Hytera Communications (UK) noted on LinkedIn:
“Proud to support the 450 MHz ecosystem with the new PNC660. Together with the 450 MHz Alliance and 450Connect we are driving reliable, secure, and future-proof critical communications.”
#450MHzAlliance #PNC660450MHz #450Connect”
