Airbus ends its interest in professional mobile radio

Airbus Defence and Space has unexpectedly announced that its professional mobile radio business no longer fits the company’s strategic goals.

It will now concentrate on core activities in space (launchers and satellites), military aircraft, missiles and related systems and services.

Its commercial and para-public communication business (including professional mobile radio and commercial satellite communications services activities) will “have better chances for growth and market success in different ownership structures”, said the company.

It was only recently that Airbus launched its TH1n handset, the thinnest and most lightweight handset in the market, which was seen as a significant investment in the UK public safety communications market and the future development of mission-critical communications.

The handset had completed the formal evaluation process with the CESG, the government’s national technical authority for information assurance, and was voted ‘Best Tetra Enterprise Product’ at last year’s International Tetra Awards.

In March, the company had also launched a new emergency notification system that enabled public safety responders to communicate quickly and securely with communities and multiple agencies in real-time during a terrorist incident, major disaster or wide-scale emergency.

Airbus will sell some of its subsidiaries, including Fairchild Controls, Rostock System-Technik, AvDef, ESG and Atlas Elektronik.

The company’s reorganisation began last year when its three business entities, Astrium, Airbus Military and Cassidian, were merged into a single organisation.

Tom Enders, chief executive officer of the Airbus Group, said the portfolio change would result in an even stronger focus on the group’s core activities – aeronautics and space.