Teamwire and Frequentis: How MCX will work in practice

MCX, short for Mission Critical Services, is a standardised concept for communication in mission-critical and support scenarios, based on LTE and 5G networks. It comprises three key services: MCPTT (Push-to-Talk), MCData (data exchange), and MCVideo (live video).

As Germany’s leading provider of secure operational communications, Teamwire brings its expertise in developing GDPR-compliant, intuitive apps to the table. In collaboration with Frequentis, Teamwire is working on the practical integration of MCX standards, aiming to combine the reliability and interoperability required for operational communications with the ease of use of modern messaging apps.

Frequentis is a global leader in safety-critical applications for control centres. The publicly listed, family-owned company based in Vienna is a leading technology provider of MCX solutions. With MissionX, Frequentis offers an end-to-end solution for MCX, which is already being successfully deployed in several European projects. In 2025, Frequentis was awarded the International Critical Communications Award for its MissionX Android SDK.

Teamwire integrates MCX into its existing messenger platform via standardised 3GPP interfaces. In collaboration with Frequentis, the MissionX infrastructure is connected to the Teamwire app either natively or via a gateway. Users can then access MCX services such as MCPTT (Push-to-Talk), MCData, and MCVideo via the familiar Teamwire interface. The integration will take place in stages: MCData will be integrated first, with further functions being rolled out later. The intuitive user experience will be retained, whilst the mission-critical MCX standards are utilised in the background. Hosting can be cloud-based within the EU, but for reasons of data sovereignty and control, it can also be offered on-premises or as a self-hosted solution.

MCX enhances TETRA with modern broadband capabilities: whilst TETRA primarily provides voice communication, MCX enables the exchange of high-resolution photos, live videos, location data, and large documents. MCX utilises 4G/5G networks, thereby offering higher data rates (up to several Mbit/s instead of just a few kbit/s with TETRA). In addition, the global 3GPP standard is designed to enable cross-vendor interoperability – different organisations can communicate seamlessly even when using different systems. 

MCX offers multi-layered, military-grade security: End-to-end encryption using the AES-256 standard for all communication content, additional encryption of metadata (who communicates with whom and when), mutual authentication of all communication partners, zero-trust architecture (every connection is continuously verified), and sovereign hosting in Germany without reliance on third countries. Even infrastructure operators have no access to content. With solutions such as Teamwire, data is stored exclusively on German servers in compliance with the GDPR. In addition, MCX enables the use of dedicated networks, isolated from the public internet, for maximum security. Regular penetration tests and certifications (e.g., in accordance with BSI standards) ensure a consistently high level of security.

Hybrid-Eins is a flagship project of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), funded through the KoPa_45 economic stimulus package via the BDBOS. It serves as a blueprint for the nationwide rollout of MCX and tests four critical aspects: the use of public 4G/5G networks for mission-critical and public safety communications, the secure connection between MCX services and existing TETRA digital radio, the integration of messenger services (in this case: Teamwire) for practical MCX use, and the analysis of security requirements for network interconnection. The partners are Teamwire, Frequentis, and Vodafone. The findings from Hybrid-E1 are being incorporated directly into the nationwide MCX strategy and demonstrate concrete implementation pathways for other public safety organisations. The project proves that MCX is no longer just a theory but is now being put into practice – in a controlled, secure, and public-safety-compliant manner.

Yes, that is precisely the key advantage of MCX as an open 3GPP standard. Interoperability between different manufacturers is technically possible – provided that all systems are implemented in accordance with the standard. Frequentis is leading the way here with its open portfolio platform, MissionX. A practical example: the integration of Teamwire with Frequentis MissionX Connect Client already demonstrates how solutions from different providers can seamlessly exchange text messages, location data, and links. Phase 2 of the 2026 roadmap will synchronise identities and call groups across different systems. This interoperability enables: collaboration between different public safety organisations (police, fire service, ambulance), even if they use different MCX solutions; cross-border operations with international partners; and gradual migration without vendor lock-in. Important: For full interoperability, operators must enter into technical agreements (e.g., call group assignment, encryption key management).

Yes, MCX offers guaranteed prioritisation through Quality of Service mechanisms within the mobile network, as MCX traffic is given higher priority than normal data traffic on dedicated network resources. These mechanisms are agreed contractually between emergency services organisations and network operators (e.g., in the Hybrid-Eins project with Vodafone). In practice, this means that even during major events, disasters, or network outages, MCX connections remain available, whilst normal mobile users must expect restrictions.