What is PTT over Cellular?
PTT over Cellular (PoC — also called push-to-talk over cellular or network radio) is instant one-to-many voice communication that travels over the mobile phone networks rather than a dedicated radio frequency. The handset looks and works like a traditional two-way radio — big PTT button on the side, loud speaker, rugged casing — but inside it is closer to a simplified smartphone with a data SIM. Press the button and your voice reaches one colleague or a group of hundreds in under a second, anywhere with mobile signal.
That single change — replacing a private radio link with the cellular data network — removes the three classic limitations of conventional radio: range, licensing and infrastructure. It is why PoC has become the fastest-growing segment of the UK business radio market since the late 2010s.
Why teams are switching to PoC
Nationwide range
Coverage is the mobile network's coverage. A driver on the M6 and a controller in the office are one button-press apart.
No Ofcom licence
PoC transmits over the phone networks, so no radio licence is needed — unlike licensed business radio. Licensing explained.
No infrastructure
No repeaters, base stations or aerial installations to buy, site or maintain. Coverage problems are the network operator's job, not yours.
Smart features
GPS tracking, lone-worker alarms, emergency buttons, messaging and full dispatch consoles come as standard on most platforms.
How it works in one paragraph
Each radio contains a SIM card and runs a PTT platform (the app layer that manages groups, contacts and priorities). When you press the button, your voice is compressed and sent as data over 4G/5G — or Wi-Fi if available — to the platform's servers, which relay it instantly to every radio in the selected talk group. Latency is typically 300–600 milliseconds. Most UK fleets use multi-network (roaming) SIMs that attach to whichever operator has the strongest signal at your location, which is why a good PoC setup often has better real-world coverage than any single mobile phone. The full picture — SIMs, platforms and what happens in a coverage blackspot — is on How PoC networks work.
What does it cost?
| Item | Typical UK price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PoC handset | £100–£300 | Rugged 4G handsets; premium models with displays and cameras cost more |
| Airtime + platform | £8–£15 /radio/month | Multi-network data SIM plus PTT platform subscription, usually bundled |
| Ofcom licence | £0 | Not required for PoC |
| Repeaters/infrastructure | £0 | None needed |
Compare that with licensed conventional radio, where wide-area coverage means buying and siting repeaters. The honest trade-off: PoC swaps a capital cost for a small ongoing subscription — and depends on mobile coverage existing where you work. The full comparison is on PoC vs two-way radio.
Who is PoC right for?
PoC suits teams that are spread out or mobile: transport and logistics, construction firms running multiple sites, security companies, facilities and cleaning contractors, events crews moving between venues. Traditional radio still wins in a few specific situations — single sites wanting zero monthly costs, and safety-critical environments that can't depend on the mobile networks. The industry-by-industry guide covers where each fits, with realistic examples.
Go deeper
PoC vs two-way radio
The honest comparison: range, five-year costs, reliability, and where each one genuinely wins.
→How PoC networks work
The handset → SIM → platform chain, multi-network SIMs, Wi-Fi fallback and latency.
→Licensing in the UK
Why PoC needs no licence, what conventional radio pays, and the import trap to avoid.
→Best PoC radios 2026
Motorola WAVE TLK, Hytera PNC, Inrico and rugged-Android options, matched to fleet types.
→PoC by industry
Logistics, construction, security, events and FM — realistic deployments and honest exceptions.
→Total cost of ownership
The real three-year sums: subscriptions vs licences, repeaters, batteries — with 10 and 40-radio worked examples.
→Do I need a licence?
The direct answer (no) and why — plus the hybrid-handset and gateway edge cases where one returns.
→PoC coverage, honestly
Multi-network SIMs and steering, indoor and rural reality, the half-second latency, and what a proper pilot measures.
→Migrating to PoC
When switching from analogue/DMR pays, the bridge pattern, contract gotchas and a phased 90-day plan.
→The full FAQ
Roaming abroad, talk-group sizes, bridging to conventional radio, blackspots and pilots.
Frequently asked questions
What is PTT over Cellular?
Push-to-talk radio carried over 4G, 5G and Wi-Fi networks instead of a private radio frequency. One button press reaches an individual or a whole talk group in under a second, anywhere with mobile signal.
Do PoC radios need an Ofcom licence?
No. PoC radios transmit over the mobile networks, so no UK radio licence is required. You pay a monthly airtime subscription instead.
What is the range of a PoC radio?
Effectively unlimited within mobile coverage — London to Glasgow works exactly like one end of a warehouse to the other.
How much does PTT over cellular cost?
Typically £100–£300 per handset and £8–£15 per radio per month for airtime and the PTT platform. No licence fee, no infrastructure.