Short answer: a PoC (Push-to-Talk over Cellular) radio looks and works like a walkie talkie, but it sends your voice over 4G LTE mobile networks and WiFi instead of radio frequencies. That gives it citywide, nationwide or even continental coverage with no license and no repeater infrastructure — the trade-off is a SIM card and, with most providers, a small monthly service cost.
How PoC works
Press the PTT button and the radio streams your audio over the mobile data network to a push-to-talk platform; every member of your talk group hears it instantly on their device, whether they are in the next room or 1,000 km away. Devices connect via 4G LTE SIM, WiFi where available, and fall back between networks automatically. Group call, private call, broadcast, GPS location and SOS are standard on business models such as the Inrico and T320 families and Zello-compatible units.
PoC vs traditional two-way radio
| PoC (LTE) | Traditional UHF/VHF | |
|---|---|---|
| Range | Nationwide via cellular | 1-10 km, repeater-dependent |
| License | Not required | Frequency license in most countries |
| Infrastructure | None — networks exist already | Repeaters for large sites |
| Running cost | SIM data / platform fee | None after purchase |
| Works off-grid | No signal = no service | Yes, radio-to-radio |
Where PoC wins
PoC is the strongest choice when your teams are spread beyond one campus: logistics and delivery fleets, intercity coach and trucking companies, utility field crews, security patrols across multiple sites, and chain stores coordinating between branches. Dispatchers see GPS positions, talk to one person or everyone at once, and can mix mobile and handheld units on the same platform. Coverage follows the cellular map — for most urban and highway operations, that means effectively unlimited range.
Where traditional radios still win
Inside a single warehouse, factory or hotel, a conventional UHF/VHF radio remains simpler and cheaper over time: no subscription, no dependence on signal strength in basements or steel structures, and true radio-to-radio communication even if the network is down. Remote camps, ships and rural sites without cellular coverage also stay in the analog/digital camp. Many fleets run both: PoC for wide-area coordination, DMR or analog on site.
The SIM and subscription reality
A PoC radio needs a data SIM — a standard consumer plan often works, while fleet operators usually prefer pooled M2M data plans for cost control. Some platforms charge a per-device monthly fee for the push-to-talk service; others let you run your own server. Budget roughly the cost of a phone data line per radio, then compare that against what you would spend on repeaters, licensing and backhaul for equivalent wide-area DMR coverage — for nationwide fleets PoC is usually a fraction of the cost.
Bulk buying notes
Wholesale PoC pricing starts at small quantities and improves at 10, 50 and 100+ units. Confirm the radio supports the LTE bands used in your country, whether it is locked to a specific platform, and whether firmware updates are included. Browse the wholesale PoC radio range or request a quote with your fleet size and countries of operation for a configuration recommendation.
Do PoC radios need a radio license?
No — because they transmit over licensed cellular networks rather than radio frequencies, PoC radios do not require a frequency license in any country.
What happens where there is no cellular signal?
PoC needs cellular or WiFi coverage. In basements, remote wilderness or at sea without coverage, a traditional analog or DMR radio is the right tool — many fleets combine both.
Can PoC and traditional radios talk to each other?
Not directly — they use different networks. A dispatch platform or gateway can bridge PoC talk groups with DMR/analog channels where mixed fleets need to interconnect.