Comtech Telecommunications Corp. Awarded $6.5 Million Buying Agreement from Harris Corporation to Support FAA Network Upgrade
February 11, 2013 at 10:00 AM EST
MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
February 11, 2013 --Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ:
CMTL) announced today that its Tempe, Arizona-based subsidiary, Comtech
EF Data Corp., was awarded a $6.5 million buying agreement from Harris
Corporation. Under the buying agreement, Harris will purchase Comtech EF
Data ground equipment to support the satellite network upgrade of the
Federal Aviation Administration's ("FAA") Alaskan Satellite
Telecommunications Infrastructure ("ASTI") program. The not to exceed
$6.5 million buying agreement encompasses a range of Comtech EF Data
ground equipment, including the CDM-625 Advanced Satellite Modem with
DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier®, redundancy
switches, and RF products for indoor and outdoor environments.
As the prime contractor for the ASTI program, Harris will replace and
upgrade the existing satcom network that links the Alaskan Air Route
Traffic Control Center in Anchorage with 64 FAA facilities throughout
the region. The ASTI program will provide increased network performance
and availability while reducing operating and maintenance costs for the
FAA's Alaskan National Airspace System Interfacility Communication
System. This infrastructure provides Alaska with 90 percent of its
inter-facility communications for critical, essential and routine air
traffic control services supporting commercial aviation.
This mission-critical network has relied on Comtech EF Data modems for
over 15 years. These will be replaced with Comtech EF Data's CDM-625
Advanced Satellite Modem with DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier®.
The CDM-625 combines the patented VersaFEC® low latency
forward error correction with DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier®
bandwidth compression for maximum savings under all conditions.
DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier®, based on Raytheon
Applied Signal Technology's patented "Adaptive Cancellation" technology,
allows transmit and receive carriers of a duplex link to share the same
transponder space. This combination of advanced technologies will
minimize OPEX/CAPEX and maximize network throughput/availability,
optimizing valuable transponder resources.
A variety of RF products are covered in the agreement, including indoor
and outdoor frequency conversion and amplifier systems. The outdoor RF
products include the LPOD Block Up Converters, the SPOD Solid State
Power Amplifiers, and the CSAT Transceivers. The rugged and weatherproof
outdoor products with field-proven performance and reliability are the
ideal choice for harsh Alaskan weather conditions. The indoor products
include the UT and DT Frequency Converters, the CPA Solid State Power
Amplifiers, and the MBT-5000 Up/Down Converter System.
"We are honored to be Harris's teammate in this vitally important
project, and believe our advanced technologies will be critical
components in increasing network performance and availability for the
FAA," commented Fred Kornberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. "Under the terms of the agreement,
product deliveries are expected primarily in our fiscal 2014."
About Harris
Harris is an international communications and information technology
company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150
countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has
approximately $6 billion of annual revenue and about 17,000 employees —
including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to
developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and
services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available
at www.harris.com.
About Comtech EF Data
Comtech EF Data Corporation is the recognized global leader in satellite
bandwidth efficiency and link optimization. The advanced communication
solutions encompass the Advanced VSAT Solutions, Modems, RAN & WAN
Optimization, Managed Bandwidth and RF products. The Company is
recognized as a technology innovator, and has a reputation for
exceptional product quality and reliability. The solutions enable
commercial and government users to reduce OPEX/CAPEX and to increase
throughput for fixed and mobile/transportable satellite-based
applications. For more information, visit www.comtechefdata.com.
About Comtech Telecommunications
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. designs, develops, produces and markets
innovative products, systems and services for advanced communications
solutions. The Company believes many of its solutions play a vital role
in providing or enhancing communication capabilities when terrestrial
communications infrastructure is unavailable, inefficient or too
expensive. The Company conducts business through three complementary
segments: telecommunications transmission, RF microwave amplifiers and
mobile data communications. The Company sells products to a diverse
customer base in the global commercial and government communications
markets. The Company believes it is a market leader in the market
segments that it serves.
Certain information in this press release contains statements that are
forward-looking in nature and involve certain significant risks and
uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from such
forward-looking information. The Company's Securities and Exchange
Commission filings identify many such risks and uncertainties. Any
forward-looking information in this press release is qualified in its
entirety by the risks and uncertainties described in such Securities and
Exchange Commission filings.
PCMTL
Media: Michael D. Porcelain, Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer 631-962-7000 info@comtechtel.com