News
Issue #2002 - 30 (August 2002)
(Updated Aug. 7, 2002)

INFRASTRUCTURE, PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Northrop Grumman and Flarion Promote Scalable Homeland Security Wireless Communication Network - Broadband Technology Enables Secure and Speedy Communication for Government Agencies

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Information Technology (IT) sector, a leading provider of advanced IT solutions, engineering and business services for government and commercial customers, and Flarion Technologies, the architect of a mobile broadband network technology for personal computing for data and voice using the industry-standard Internet Protocol (IP), today announced that the two companies are working together to promote a Homeland Security network communication system based on Flarion's flash-OFDMTM technology*. Northrop Grumman IT and Flarion are promoting the network system to government customers wanting the most advanced, secure and flexible mobile broadband network for homeland security and emergency response applications. 

"A Homeland Security network needs to offer nationwide coverage, interoperability with existing networks, and meet the requirements for security, spectrum, bandwidth and speed comparable with the wired broadband network," said Tom Wheeler, President and CEO of CTIA. "The Flarion - Northrop Grumman IT initiative is a good example of how the wireless industry is stepping up to help the government address its Homeland Security challenges." 

The Northrop Grumman IT and Flarion Homeland Security solution provides many significant improvements over existing network solutions, including:

• A packet-switched voice and data airlink technology (flash-OFDM) for nationwide coverage that replicates the wired broadband computing transport experience 
• Flarion RadioRoutersÔ for wireless coverage and access, deployed at cellular base stations around the country 
• PC cards for personal computing for use with PDA and laptop wireless computing devices
• Application access to any standard office and operational system: Operational Database Applications, Customer Specific Applications (IP), Data Mining as well as Instant Messaging 
  Communication support for: "Push to talk" for mobile voice services and "Always On", fully mobile broadband data access and support for priority access
• Interoperability with the industry-standard IP network with full support for network and device security (VPN and encryption), Quality of Service (QoS) and seamless handoff to 802.11-based wireless access points 
• Network management tools which allow for Remote Network Management, ad-hoc/Mobile IP Network Design
• Rapid Deployment Cellular Base Station: Cell-on-Light-Truck known (COLT), is equipped with two base stations and an IP network enables the COLT to offer up to 5 miles of cellular coverage and access to secure or public networks can be deployed at major disaster scenes to ensure continuous communications capabilities regardless of local carrier problems 

"In our own review for national High Speed Wireless Network for Homeland Security, we determined that a completely new approach would be necessary," said Jim Lindenfelser, Northrop Grumman IT TASC vice president and director, Space & Communications. "Flarion's IP friendly airlink and the business case for flash-OFDM convinced us that the communication network could scale to the demands of a federal network system."

"Along with Northrop Grumman IT, Flarion is pleased to offer help and assistance to the U.S. government with their review of solutions for a secure and spectrum-efficient wireless network for voice and data," said Ray Dolan, CEO of Flarion Technologies. "Together, we will demonstrate a highly scalable packet-switched end-to-end network which meets and exceeds the current objectives for a Homeland Security communication system."

Flarion's mobile broadband technology is a packet-switched radio access network that allows licensed mobile operators to offer customers a seamless, always-on connection to the Internet and private networks, extending the personal computing experience beyond the limits of voice or LAN-based network technologies. The flash-OFDM PC-card modem is plug-and-play compatible with existing IP devices, operating systems and applications and does not require any changes to protocol, settings, devices or content.

For more information: http://www.flarion.com

MobileInfo Advisory & Comments:  Homeland security is the new buzzword, especially on the eve of 9/11 anniversary. We like Flarion's OFDM technology as an important improvement over existing signal coding schemes and recognize that one could provide a base station in a disaster zone in a hurry. However, having an OFDM network is only part of the story. The issues you have to worry are OFDM support in devices. That will not happen over night. We are sure that serious emergency response system professionals will find Flarion-Northrop solution worth serious evaluation.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.