USA Chooses GSM, Not CDMA for Army Bases "

interWAVE Communications says that Cell-Tel Government Systems, a reseller and integrator of interWAVE solutions, has secured a contract with the U.S. Army's CECOM (Communications-Electronics Command) for interWAVE's complete GSM solution. Cell-Tel will deliver three complete systems to three different locations, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, Fort Huachuca, Arizona and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where the systems will be placed into operation.

interWAVE's solution is part of Cell-Tel's integrated MilWave GSM solution that has now passed formal hardware and software testing conducted by several departments of the U.S. Army. The MilWave product is listed on the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule, and as a result, available to the U.S. Government and U.S. Military.

Elizabeth Wilson, president and chief executive officer of Cell-Tel, commented, "Cell-Tel's MilWave solution integrates revolutionary technologies to create an end-to-end mission-critical wireless communication platform for the U.S. Army. The primary reason our MilWave offering was selected resides in the differentiators that the interWAVE system enables. Our relationship with interWAVE allows us to provide the U.S. Army with the only full turnkey solution available for secure and mobile GSM communications. The intention of the U.S. military is to greatly expand the use of the MilWave solution throughout the Department of Defense before the end of the calendar year, creating significant opportunities for both interWAVE and Cell-Tel."

The interWAVE GSM product provides a compact, flexible and scalable priority cellular solution. Each system is a complete GSM network based on the Network-In-A-Box product, and is packaged in a rugged transit case, similar to a suitcase, that meets the two-man lift specification of the U.S. Army. Once on the ground the system is designed for quick and easy set up and comes ready to link to the rest of the world via satellite, microwave or wireline interfaces.

Additionally, Cell-Tel's solution using interWAVE's products is Type 1 secure, allowing connectivity to Type 1 secure wireless phones and wireline terminals to provide secure end-to-end encryption over both the public and private GSM networks. interWAVE's solution provides the military users with access to commercial technology while maintaining the highest level of security required by government and military officials for the transfer of sensitive and classified information.

Bill Carlin, interWAVE's vice president of global sales, marketing and operations, commented, "The constant threat of terrorism, both domestic and internationally, has increased the need for the military to possess and be prepared to deploy contingency communications infrastructure at a moment's notice. This sale to the U.S. Army dramatically increases the flexibility and capabilities of the military's communications apparatus, allowing the Army to deploy sophisticated wireless infrastructure anywhere in the world it is needed to meet unanticipated demand due to call volume or emergency conditions. This announcement further validates the appropriateness of interWAVE and Cell-Tel products to meet the growing demand for enhanced homeland security technology."

Posted to the site on 1st May 2003