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COLOGNE, Germany — The European professional communications community is preparing to gather in Cologne for PMRExpo 2026, taking place from 24–26 November at Koelnmesse, as the industry enters a new phase in the evolution of secure, resilient and networked communications.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, PMRExpo has evolved from its roots in professional mobile radio and control centres into a broader platform covering the technologies, networks and applications supporting mission-critical and business-critical communications. The 2026 edition places particular emphasis on how established professional mobile communications are converging with broadband, private 5G, Critical IoT, satellite communications and artificial intelligence.
With more than 200 exhibitors already registered five months ahead of the event, PMRExpo reported its strongest advance booking position to date and expects further growth in 2026. The event will bring together technology providers, network operators, system integrators, public-safety organisations, critical-infrastructure operators and industry users from across Europe and beyond.
One of the defining themes of PMRExpo 2026 is the transformation of professional communications from traditional PMR environments toward increasingly networked, IP-based and broadband architectures.
While technologies such as TETRA, DMR and other professional mobile radio systems remain important operational platforms, organisations are increasingly evaluating how broadband technologies can complement and extend existing communications capabilities.
Private 5G, MCX services, Critical IoT and advanced control-centre platforms are therefore becoming increasingly relevant to organisations that require secure voice, data, video and operational intelligence across demanding environments.
PMRExpo’s dedicated 5G Hub for Private Networks will examine applications and implementation considerations for high-availability private 5G campus networks, highlighting the transition from technology demonstrations toward operational deployments.
PMRExpo 2026 has identified several major focus areas that reflect the changing technology landscape of mission- and business-critical communications:
1. Critical Infrastructures
Energy, transport, utilities, industrial facilities and other critical infrastructure operators face growing requirements for secure connectivity, cybersecurity, data protection and highly available communications.
2. Public Safety and BOS
Police, fire and rescue services, emergency medical services and civil protection organisations remain at the heart of secure communications. The focus increasingly extends beyond voice toward integrated voice, data, video and situational-awareness capabilities.
3. Control Centres
As the operational nerve centres of mission-critical organisations, control rooms are becoming increasingly connected to multiple communication networks, data sources and field systems. Their role is expected to become even more important as emergency response becomes more data-driven.
4. Private 5G and Critical IoT
The combination of private 5G and IoT is opening new possibilities for industrial automation, asset monitoring, operational communications and real-time data exchange. PMRExpo will showcase how these technologies can support high-availability applications in critical environments.
5. Satellite Communications and NTN
LEO constellations, direct-to-device connectivity and 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) are emerging as additional layers within resilient communications architectures. Their potential is particularly relevant where terrestrial network availability cannot be guaranteed.
6. Artificial Intelligence
AI is moving into the operational communications ecosystem, supporting information processing, incident assessment, anomaly detection and decision-making. For control centres, critical infrastructure and public-safety organisations, the key question is increasingly how AI can be integrated into operational workflows while maintaining security, reliability and human oversight.
Beyond the exhibition floor, PMRExpo 2026 will feature the PMRExpo Summit, Connecting Area, 5G Hub for Private Networks, Hackathon@PMRExpo and PMRExpo Symposium.
The Summit will address the challenges and technology developments shaping next-generation critical communications, while the Symposium will focus on resilient operational communications in the context of civil-military cooperation.
The exhibition itself will feature a broad cross-section of the communications ecosystem, with companies including Airbus, Damm, Frequentis, Hytera, isafeMOBILE, Motorola Solutions, RugGear, Tait, TASSTA, T-Systems and others listed among the 2026 exhibitors.
As the boundaries between PMR, broadband, private 5G, MCX, IoT, cloud, satellite and AI continue to converge, PMRExpo 2026 provides an important meeting point for understanding where professional and mission-critical communications are heading next.
For users and decision-makers, the central question is no longer simply which radio system to deploy. It is increasingly how multiple technologies and networks can work together to deliver secure, resilient and intelligent communications across the entire operational ecosystem.
PMRExpo 2026 will take place 24–26 November 2026 at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany, with access reserved for trade visitors.
PMRExpo 2026 is set to welcome the global critical communications community to Cologne — where the next generation of secure communications takes shape.
