HMD Secure, Qualcomm Technologies and STREAMWIDE have unveiled a new device-to-device communications system based on 3GPP NR Sidelink technology, designed to keep first responders and critical infrastructure teams connected when conventional mobile networks are unavailable.
The collaboration, which will be demonstrated publicly at Critical Communications World in Helsinki, combines hardened mobile hardware, a mission-critical application layer, and chipset-level support for direct communications between devices. The partners say the system is aimed at enabling off-grid voice, messaging, and data exchange in environments where network coverage is degraded, congested, or completely absent.
At the core of the demonstration is NR Sidelink, a 5G capability that allows devices to communicate directly without routing traffic through a base station. In the proof of concept, two devices can establish a direct link, while multiple devices can form a multi-hop mesh network extending communications across several kilometres, depending on spectrum and deployment conditions.
The system integrates Qualcomm’s 5G platform support for sidelink connectivity, HMD Secure’s ruggedised smartphone hardware, including its Ivalo XE terminal and tactical module, and STREAMWIDE’s mission-critical communications software, which provides push-to-talk, messaging, and file sharing capabilities.
According to the companies, the combination is designed to support both indoor and outdoor operations, with devices able to maintain connectivity in collapsed infrastructure scenarios or during large-scale emergencies. The architecture also supports priority and pre-emption features intended to ensure emergency communications are not disrupted by lower-priority traffic.
HMD Secure said it is already working with a number of enterprise customers across early test platforms, suggesting the technology is moving beyond laboratory validation towards limited field trials. The company has positioned the solution as part of a broader push into secure, sovereign mobile infrastructure for government, defence, logistics, and industrial users.
Naufel Dekli, general manager of product portfolio at HMD Secure, said off-grid resilience was becoming a baseline requirement for mission-critical users rather than an optional capability. He said combining NR Sidelink with hardened devices and mission-critical applications provided a “simple way to keep talking, sharing, and coordinating when it matters most”.
From the chipset perspective, Dino Flore, vice-president of technology at Qualcomm Europe, said the technology demonstrated how 3GPP standards could be used to extend communications beyond traditional network boundaries, particularly in high-pressure environments such as disaster response.
STREAMWIDE chief executive Pascal Béglin said the collaboration showed how interoperable technologies could maintain operational continuity when infrastructure is compromised, highlighting the importance of resilient communication stacks for public safety and industrial users.
While device-to-device communications have existed in various forms for years, including earlier LTE-based sidelink implementations, the partners argue that 5G NR Sidelink significantly increases capacity, range, and flexibility, particularly when combined with mesh networking.
The companies also point to support for multiple spectrum configurations, which could allow deployment across different regulatory environments and operational scenarios, although commercial rollout timelines remain limited to early access programmes and selected customers.
Hardware support is currently centred on HMD Secure’s tactical module for its Ivalo device range, with broader device compatibility expected in future iterations as the ecosystem develops. The partners say interoperability testing with additional mission-critical communications vendors is ongoing, suggesting an attempt to align with wider MCX standards used in public safety networks.
Live demonstrations are scheduled for 16th June at 12pm BST and 18th June at 10.30am BST at the Finnish Pavilion during Critical Communications World, where the companies will showcase multi-device mesh communications, off-grid push-to-talk, and data sharing in simulated network-denied environments.
If the technology performs as described under real-world conditions, it could offer a pathway towards more resilient Edge connectivity for IoT deployments in sectors where downtime is not an option. However, as with many early-stage 5G sidelink applications, questions remain around scalability, battery efficiency, and regulatory approval for wide-area use.
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