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Business Wire

Highlights:

  • System will support police, fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) that serve the countys 764 square miles.
  • 13-site system will dramatically improve radio coverage for first responders.
  • Contract includes 15 years of maintenance for long-term service and support.

MELBOURNE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First responders in Saint Marys County, Maryland, are improving their critical communications through a new county-wide public safety radio network based on the latest standards for voice and data transmissions.

The county awarded Harris Corporation a $34 million contract to design and deploy a Project 25 (P25) Phase 2 standards-based radio system to provide greater coverage, including in-building coverage, for voice and data communications throughout the countys 764 square miles. P25 is a suite of technical standards for the design and manufacture of interoperable digital radio communications equipment.

The Harris P25 Phase 2system will deliver an efficient and cost-effective migration path from Saint Marys Countys current Harris Enhanced Digital Access Communication System (EDACS) with minimal disruption to day-to-day communications during implementation. Additionally, the new system supports interoperability with neighboring agencies, regardless of frequency band.

The first responders in Saint Marys County are committed to protecting the safety of our residents, and to do that, they require reliable and interoperable communication solutions that perform when needed most, said Bob Kelly, director of Emergency Services and Technology, Saint Marys County. After a comprehensive evaluation process, we chose the Harris system because it offered us the best coverage for our first responders needs and is based on the latest generation of communication standards.

The 10-channel P25 Phase 2 system will operate at 800 MHz to provide reliable radio capabilities for law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies. The contract also includes long-term service and support maintenance. Adding to the systems cost effectiveness, the system design will leverage some elements of the existing infrastructure, including antenna sites.

We designed a system that meets the critical needs of Saint Marys County first responders, who clearly emphasized their need for greater coverage throughout the county, said Steve Marschilok, president, Harris Public Safety and Professional Communications. The Harris P25 Phase 2 system gives the countys public safety agencies the optimal path for modernizing their communications.

The Harris P25 Phase 2 system is part of the VIDA® network, a unified Internet Protocol-based voice and data communication system based on APCO P25 industry standards. VIDA delivers full IP management features, including interoperability without intervention of console operators, IP consoles, and other benefits inherent in open IP architecture systems.

In public safety and professional communications Harris is a leading supplier of assured communications® systems and equipment for public safety, federal, utility, commercial and transportation markets with products ranging from the most advanced IP voice and data networks, to next-generation, secure public safety-grade LTE (Long-Term Evolution) solutions for voice, video and data applications, to industry leading multiband, multimode radios. Harris has more than 80 years of experience in public safety and professional communications and supports over 500 systems around the world.

About Harris Corporation

Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 125 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5.5 billion of annual revenue and about 15,000 employees including 6,000 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 harris.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about the expected value of the program to Harris are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&sty=20120821005107r1&sid=acqr4&distro=nx

Harris Corporation
Victoria Dillon, 978-905-3101
Public Safety and Professional Communications
Victoria.Dillon@harris.com
or
Jim Burke, 321-727-9131
Corporate Headquarters
Jim.Burke@harris.com

Source: Harris Corporation

Copyright Business Wire 2012