• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

CONXX Chosen to Build Next-Generation Wireless Communication Network for Pennsylvania's Cambria County

Posted on: Monday, 11 June 2007, 18:00 CDT

Pennsylvania's Cambria County has selected carrier-grade wireless technology from CONXX™ for the core of a county-wide, multi-service communication network. The new network, part of a mandated Federal Communications Commission public safety communication overhaul, will enable the county to have a single, high-performance network for county government, education, public safety, commercial and residential communication services.

"The county will be able to eliminate most of its own monthly communication costs, and at the same time create opportunities for economic development and better government and public safety services," PJ Peterson, county commission president, said.

The CONXX Carrier Communication Platform™ is a telecommunication-grade infrastructure deployed wirelessly. It provides traditional T1 and frame relay connections for phone systems and data networks, metropolitan LAN connections to connect government and businesses across the County and the world. It provides high-quality connections to tie the public safety two-way radio system together and mobile communications to provide high-speed networks between police, fire and other government vehicles. Schools will be able to connect at up to 20 times existing speeds allowing IP voice, high definition school security systems and "on-demand" multimedia access to classrooms.

The CONXX platform's advanced security features and architecture enable the network to safely and effectively provide a variety of services to a diverse user community. The CONXX platform has been operating successfully since 2003 as AllCoNet 2 in Allegany County, Maryland. This proven network received the "Smart Practice' designation from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) in 2006, and has been the only municipal network to receive this designation. (More information is available at www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/nims_smart_practice.shtm.)

The new public safety communication platform is a M/A-COM system provided through TransCore, Inc., based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The system will be tightly integrated into the CONXX backbone and will improve coverage in areas where public safety communications has been a longstanding problem.

"When we found that we had to upgrade our public safety system, I was concerned about the cost," Brian Feist, director of emergency service for Cambria County, said. "We needed to find a system that would not only fix our public safety problems, but could also address some of the bigger communication issues we have to leverage the investment. I think we succeeded."

The Cambria network will also provide opportunities for economic development and lower costs for business communication services.

"The core backbone of the network is designed to have the reliability of a carrier network," said Jeff Blank, chief technical officer of CONXX and creator of AllCoNet. "The quality and reliability of this network make it a great choice for both large and small businesses for primary data and voice communications and Internet."

The county commissioners also wanted to improve broadband Internet access for residents. To promote social inclusion, the network will enable high-speed broadband access to many areas of the county that previously had no access. Additionally, because of the economics, the county has the ability to provide free or low cost Broadband access to the homes of children who qualify for subsidized lunch programs at school.

The CONXX network includes the deployment of metro Wi-Fi in several communities throughout the county with the newest of Wi-Fi technology from Wavion. The Wavion WS410 access point (AP) provides exceptional economic benefits unmatched by any traditional metro Wi-Fi AP. Where Wi-Fi is not available, residential and business customers can still get access through fixed wireless connections to the network.

"This project is an additional market validation of the exceptional value of Wavion's technology combined with the CONXX architecture," Benny Zilberstein, Wavion's corporate vice president of sales and marketing for Wavion, said.

"We are very pleased with the capabilities this new network gives the county," Commissioner Peterson said. "It will provide broadband in areas of our county where it is most needed, and it brings Cambria County into the 21st century of communications."

"Cambria County has demonstrated their innovative spirit with this network," David Kartchner, president of CONXX, said. "This is the ideal solution for rural counties, and provides a way for Cambria to really shine."

About CONXX

CONXX™ has developed network architecture and infrastructure to help rural communities overcome both digital and economic divides. The CONXX Carrier Communication Platform™ combines carrier-grade telecommunications technology at the core with cost-effective Ethernet technology at the edge. The CONXX Carrier Communication Observer™ is a full-service, web-based network management and operating support system for municipal networks. The privately held company's wired and wireless networks support multiple services and service providers. CONXX is headquartered in Cumberland, Maryland, and maintains a regional office in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information visit http://www.conxx.net.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category