General Dynamics Successfully Completes PSCR Interoperability Tests for Public Safety Communications Equipment

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics Broadband (GD Broadband), a business area of General Dynamics C4 Systems, announced today that the company's eNodeB and Evolved Packet Core (EPC) products have successfully completed phase one and phase three of the long-term evolution (LTE) network tests at the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program at the Commerce Department's Boulder Laboratories in Colorado. The successful testing is a significant milestone in demonstrating that GD Broadband equipment is capable of supporting the nation's FirstNet initiative. FirstNet will provide secure broadband communications and interoperability among more than 60,000 federal, state, local and tribal agencies and across jurisdictional lines.

"GD Broadband's wireless broadband products are part of the ADCOM 911 high-speed LTE public safety network that is being built in Adams County, Colorado," said Manny Mora, a senior vice president with General Dynamics C4 Systems. "These products meet the unique communication needs of law enforcement and public safety personnel and the success of these tests demonstrate that GD Broadband has the right products for FirstNet networks."

The ADCOM911 system is one of seven Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) locations that the FirstNet board of directors is considering for continued operation. GD Broadband's products are also connecting police, fire and other emergency first responders to the New York City Wireless Information Network (NYCWiN).

"We congratulate General Dynamics for completing the phase one and phase three interoperability tests for Band Class 14," said Bill Malone, director of Adams County Communications Center (ADCOM911).  "Technical interoperability is fundamental to the interconnection of ADCOM911 and the North Central Colorado Region with other jurisdictions licensed to operate in the Public Safety radio spectrum. By collaborating with PSCR, General Dynamics has demonstrated its commitment to ADCOM911 and validates the company's commitment to open architectures and a multi-vendor ecosystem."

"Holding vendors to open and robust interoperability standards is critical to the success of next-generation public safety communication networks like FirstNet. Vendors that pass these rigorous tests play a key role in ensuring a more cost-effective future of public safety communications," said John Santo, a retired Department of Homeland Security executive and an advisor to General Dynamics on public safety communications.

The PSCR program is a joint effort of two U.S. Department of Commerce agencies, the Law Enforcement Standards Office (OLES) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). For more information about the PSCR program, visit www.pscr.gov.

General Dynamics Broadband is a leader in building and integrating complex communication networks with 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless broadband and secure wireless mesh networks. For more information about GD Broadband's eNodeB, Evolved Packet Core and related public safety solutions visit www.gdc4s.com/publicsafety.

General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). For more information about General Dynamics visit www.gd.com.

SOURCE General Dynamics C4 Systems