General Dynamics Broadband (GD Broadband), a business of General Dynamics C4 Systems, announced that the companys user equipment devices, eNodeB and evolved packet core (EPC) products successfully completed phases one and three of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) demonstration network tests at the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program in Boulder, Colo.
The testing milestone demonstrates that GD Broadband equipment is capable of supporting the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) initiative. FirstNet will provide secure broadband communications and interoperability among more than 60,000 federal, state, local and tribal agencies and across jurisdictional lines.
"GD Broadbands wireless broadband products are part of the Adams County Communications Center (ADCOM 911) high-speed LTE public-safety network that is being built in Adams County, Colo.," said Manny Mora, a senior vice president with General Dynamics C4 Systems. "These products meet the unique communications needs of law-enforcement and public-safety personnel, and the success of these tests demonstrate that GD Broadband has the right products for FirstNet networks."
Mora said General Dynamics is the only U.S. company to have demonstrated all three of the key LTE components user equipment, eNodeBs and EPCs with the PSCR interoperability tests. Were the only company that designs and builds our own user equipment, he said.
Results from the PSCR tests are given to the FirstNet board of directors. One of the key things that FirstNet wants to do with this network is to open it up so its an open architecture, Mora said. You dont have to buy a bundle from one vendor. They are demonstrating this is good, and it will bode well for the network.
The ADCOM911 system is one of seven Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) awardees with which the FirstNet board of directors is negotiating spectrum leases. Last week, FirstNet passed a resolution granting the seven BTOP public-safety entities another 30 days to finalize negotiations on spectrum lease agreements. The new deadline is June 12.
"We congratulate General Dynamics for completing the phase one and phase three interoperability tests for band class 14," said Bill Malone, director of ADCOM 911. "Technical interoperability is fundamental to the interconnection of ADCOM 911 and the northcentral Colorado region with other jurisdictions licensed to operate in the public-safety radio spectrum."
Mora said the ADCOM 911 public-safety LTE network will be ready to go live shortly after it gets clearance from the federal government. About 2,000 first responders from 13 public-safety agencies will use the network. It will be interesting to see how different agencies have different applications and needs for the information, he said.
GD Broadbands products are also connecting police, fire and other emergency first responders to the New York City Wireless Information Network (NYCWiN). GD Broadbandannounced its entry into the public-safety market last yearafter acquiring IPWireless, a supplier of public-safety broadband products.
The PSCR program is a joint effort of two U.S. Department of Commerce agencies, the Law Enforcement Standards Office (OLES) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Thales Communicationsannounced last week that it completed phase three testingfor its EPC under the PSCR tests.
Source: General Dynamics Broadband Completes Phases 1, 3 of PSCR Tests, Radio Resource Media Group,5/13/2013