Northrop Grumman+Lucent+Flarion+OFDMNorthrop Grumman To Build Homeland Security Wireless Network
Mon Aug 5, 1:46 PM ET
Jay Wrolstad, Wireless.NewsFactor.com
In an effort to deliver a homeland security wireless network, government contractor Northrop Grumman ( NYSE: NOC - news) has inked a partnership deal with mobile communications firm Flarion Technologies.
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Under terms of the alliance, Northrop Grumman's IT sector and Flarion will offer the system to government customers that want to launch a mobile broadband network for security and emergency response applications.
Extending PC Applications
The communications system will be based on Flarion's flash-OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing), a packet-switched radio access network technology that enables always-on connections to the Internet and private networks, extending PC applications beyond voice or LAN (local area network)-based network technologies, company president Mike Gallagher told Wireless NewsFactor.
"This is next-generation technology that is all IP-based, which means we can mobilize all desktop applications," Gallagher said. "That means government agencies can easily deploy a broadband network that delivers high-speed data to any mobile device."
As proposed, the homeland security system would offer improvements over existing voice-based network solutions, said Gallagher, because it will be built primarily to support data. Flash-OFDM technology delivers transmission speeds as fast as, or faster than, cable modem ( news - web sites) or DSL (digital subscriber line) connections, he added.
Tapping Government Spending
Among the proposed network's features are packet-switched voice and data airlink technology for nationwide coverage, routers for wireless coverage and access deployed at cellular base stations around the country, and PC cards for PDAs, laptop PCs and next-generation mobile phones.
The system, which comprises base stations, PC cards and chips embedded in wireless-enabled devices, uses less equipment than competing technologies, according to Gallagher. It can be overlaid on an existing network technology, eliminating the need for changes to protocol, settings, devices or content.
"We see the government as an enormous market, especially after the unfortunate incidents of 9/11 and an increased focus on homeland security," said Gallagher. "Currently, the government communications system is subpar when compared to commercial systems, and this is a chance for them to get next-generation wireless infrastructure."
Value to Law Enforcement
In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, research firm IDC has projected an increase in government spending on wireless data technology to address safety and security issues, IDC analyst Keith Waryas told Wireless NewsFactor. Such technology would be of particular value to law enforcement officials at all levels who are primarily relying on voice communications for identification and background checks, he said.
"Wireless LANs offer limited coverage, but connections to wide area networks using technologies like Flarion's offer a speed-enhancement package that could be attractive," he noted.
The technology developed by Flarion, a spinoff of Lucent ( NYSE: LU - news), was created by Bell Labs. Gallagher said the company is in discussions with wireless service providers worldwide and expects to ship its flash-OFDM product in quantity by year's end.