Who We Are
Critical Insights is a specialist consulting firm dedicated to mission-critical public safety communications. With more than twenty-five years of experience supporting emergency services, governments, operators and technology providers, we help organisations navigate the transition from proven TETRA systems to LTE/5G broadband MCX solutions.
Our work spans the full lifecycle of critical communications programmes — from initial strategy and requirements definition, through procurement support, deployment assurance and performance verification, to ongoing advisory and optimisation. We have operated across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Australasia.
Everything we do is grounded in operational reality, deep technical authority, and an unwavering commitment to user trust and service integrity. When frontline emergency service professionals depend on a communications system with their lives, that system must work — first time, every time, in every condition.
Leadership
Founder & CEO
Andrew Fleet
Founder & CEO
Critical Insights was founded by Andrew Fleet, a board-level advisor in public safety mission-critical communications with rare experience continuity from narrowband TETRA through to broadband 3GPP LTE/5G MCX. He has held senior advisory, programme and business development roles across government programmes, vendors, operators and end-user organisations worldwide.
🛡 UK Government Security Cleared (NSV)
Our History
From Airwave to ESN and Beyond
EARLY 2000s
Samdale — the beginning
Critical Insights began as Samdale, providing consulting support to Greater Manchester Police as the first metropolitan force to migrate to the UK's then-new TETRA-based Airwave network. We championed the frontline users, challenging and negotiating with the service provider to deliver a network genuinely fit for operational purpose.
2000s – 2010s
Global expansion — TETRA worldwide
Two decades of experience supporting Public Safety Critical Communications deployments across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Supporting Emergency Services, national governments and network operators through TETRA network design, deployment assurance and performance optimisation.
2014 – PRESENT
ESN and the LTE MCX transition
Supporting the UK's Emergency Services Network — ESN — the replacement for Airwave based on 4G LTE MCX (Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk) technology. Deep expertise in 3GPP MCX standards, MCPTT, MCData and MCVideo, and the operational requirements of Emergency Services transitioning from TETRA to broadband critical communications.
NOW
5G NR and the next generation
As 5G NR begins to underpin next-generation critical communications, Critical Insights is positioned to support organisations planning, evaluating or deploying 5G-based public safety solutions — drawing on more than twenty-five years of experience navigating major technology transitions in the most demanding operational environments.
Ready to work with us?
Whether you need independent expert advice, programme support, or business development assistance in the critical communications sector, we'd love to hear from you.
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