Aviat Networks Announces Agreement with Basin Electric Power Cooperative

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviat Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNW), a leading expert in microwave networking solutions, today announced an agreement to provide Basin Electric Power Cooperative with its industry-leading Eclipse Packet Node microwave platform solution. Aviat Networks will supply the Eclipse Packet Node platform backed by turnkey professional services to completely replace their existing North Dakota and South Dakota network. The multi-million dollar agreement with Basin Electric continues Aviat Networks' relationship with this leading electric utility to more than 15 years.

Utilizing Basin Electric's infrastructure at existing radio sites, Aviat Networks will roll out a replacement network based on the Eclipse Packet Node microwave platform, a next-generation Hybrid radio that supports existing TDM and future IP traffic in native formats for maximum throughput and lowest latency. Eclipse Packet Node's enhanced system gain feature and Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) technology enables upgrading of Basin Electric's 45Mbps infrastructure to 360Mbps throughput at the same antenna sizes. This upgrade will significantly increase the capacity of the microwave network to accommodate Basin Electric's traffic growth. The company's Professional Services team will design the network and provide full turnkey services to Basin Electric to have the microwave network in place in North Dakota and South Dakota by the first quarter of 2013.

"The current microwave radio system has been in service for 15 years," says Boyd Trester, project engineer with Basin Electric. "The existing system does not have the bandwidth to carry the additional protective relaying, SCADA, mobile radio, data and voice channels to support system growth. The new Aviat Networks microwave radio system will have eight times the capacity of the current system, which is necessary to support our generation and transmission expansion. Excellent serviceability, high power and ease of capacity upgrade make all-indoor radios such as Eclipse Packet Node the radio architecture of choice for our mission-critical voice and data."

In addition to leveraging infrastructure and dramatically expanding available bandwidth, Eclipse Packet Node provides this leading electric utility with highly reliable uptime -- especially compared to fiber -- for the harsh environment of North Dakota and South Dakota, where Basin Electric has many of its operations. "Basin feels that microwave is more reliable than 'aerial' optical fiber, mounted on electric transmission lines," Trester says. "Optical fiber takes time to repair and put back into service. Microwave systems have a higher in-service rate and if they do go down, can be restored much more quickly in a crisis scenario."

"We are pleased that Basin Electric Power Cooperative has once again selected Aviat Networks to upgrade its mission-critical communications network," says Tony Ljubicich, vice president of sales, Americas, Aviat Networks. "This win further demonstrates that utility companies invest in modernizing their microwave networks to continue to deliver reliable electrical power."

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About Aviat Networks

Aviat Networks, Inc. is a leader in microwave networking solutions. We apply innovation and IP networking expertise toward building a carrier class foundation for future mobile and fixed broadband networks. With more than 750,000 systems installed around the world, Aviat Networks has built a reputation as a leader in offering best-of-breed solutions including LTE-proven microwave backhaul and a complete portfolio of service and support options to public and private telecommunications operators worldwide. With a global reach and local presence in more than 46 countries, Aviat Networks works by the side of its customers allowing them to quickly and cost effectively seize new market and service opportunities. Aviat Networks is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and listed on NASDAQ (AVNW).

About Basin Electric Power Cooperative

Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) is one of the largest electric generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives in the United States. They are the parent company of eight subsidiaries. Basin Electric Power Cooperative provides cost-effective wholesale energy along with products and services that support and unite rural America. See more at http://www.basinelectric.com.

SOURCE Aviat Networks, Inc.