Kapsch BusinessCom And RuggedCom Partner To Deliver A WiMAX Network For Smart Grid Applications In Austria

Concord, ON - RuggedCom Inc., ("RuggedCom"), a leading designer and manufacturer of rugged communications networking solutions for mission-critical applications in harsh environments, recently announced it has partnered with Kapsch BusinessCom, the leading Austrian system integrator for state-of-the-art telecom and network enterprise solutions, to deliver a WiMAX network for an Austrian electric power company.

The network will be based on RuggedCom's RuggedMAX family of utility grade WiMAX compliant broadband wireless products. The RuggedMAX family of products is used to extend IP/Ethernet networks cost effectively over long distances through the use of wireless technology. RuggedMAX equipment has been designed to provide a level of ruggedness and reliability required for communications networks deployed in harsh environments, such as those typically found in electric utility substations, and is fully standards based, compliant with the WiMAX 802.16e Wave 2 (MIMO) standard.

"We are very excited about our partnership with RuggedCom" said DI Gerhard Schrott, Head of Network Solutions at Kapsch BusinessCom. "Unlike many of our service provider customers, the electric power company wanted to use power substations as a base station site. We were looking for a partner capable of deploying a solution that was open standards based but also could meet the environmental requirements of an electric power application. RuggedMAX proved to be the ideal choice for this network."

"We see an increasing number of electric utilities around the world looking at using WiMAX for multiple applications as part of their Smart Grid solution," said Elik Jaeger, VP RuggedWIRELESS. "We believe that a reliable utility grade communications infrastructure is critical to creating a reliable Smart Grid implementation. Our award winning, field proven, substation hardened communications technology coupled with our experience with over 700 utilities around the world allows us to offer a comprehensive communications solution of both wireline and wireless products capable of being the communications backbone of any Smart Grid. We call our Smart Grid communications offering RuggedGRID."

The network roll out began in November of 2009 and will cover some 300 base station sites over the next three years.

For more information about RuggedMAX and RuggedGRID, please visit www.RuggedCom.com.

SOURCE: RuggedCom Inc.